Krstic to play in Russia

Weighing the possibility of an NBA lockout against the security of playing closer to his home country, Celtics center Nenad Krstic has decided to play overseas next season for CSKA Moscow.

The 7-foot Serbian would have been a free agent this summer, and Celtics president Danny Ainge had said the team was interested in bringing back the 27-year-old. Instead, Krstic signed a two-year contract worth 6.6 million euros ($9.6 million).

“I was contacted by Nenad’s agent,’’ said Ainge, “and with the uncertainty of the labor situation of the NBA, I think he decided to take the sure thing.’’

Ainge said he had been talking to Krstic since the end of the season about bringing him back.

“He’s been sharing his situation with me,’’ said Ainge. “I talked to him just the other day. He loved Boston and had a great desire to return there and play, but I think the uncertainty gave him [a reason to leave]. I guess this is what he felt, that he was going to take this opportunity.’’

This is the second time Krstic has left the NBA to play in Russia. In the summer of 2008, he signed a two-year deal for 6 million euros with Triumph Lyubertsy. But that December, he agreed to a three-year, $16 million contract with Oklahoma City.

For the Celtics, the center position was already on the offseason checklist. With Shaquille O’Neal retiring last week and Krstic’s deal running out this summer, Jermaine O’Neal is the only center on the roster.

“Regardless of whether he goes over there, he was a free agent this summer anyway,’’ Ainge said. “We were going to have to have someone play center. If it wasn’t Nenad Krstic, it was going to be someone else.

“So we’re still in that situation, other than we don’t have the option to bring back Nenad with us.’’