Bulls could explore trading Boozer

Probballdraft: Speculation that the Bulls will explore deals with Boozer & might be willing to package 28 &/or 30 to help. CHI alarmed by his lapses on d.
6 hours ago

CHI alarmed by his lapses on d.

FabFourLakers wrote:There are plenty of teams in the market for a PF...for instance, the Cleveland Cavaliers might be willing to deal their trade exception and #4 pick (and maybe anderson varejao?) for Boozer to pair along with Irving? Or maybe the Sixers would be willing to part ways with Iguodala for Boozer since they need more big men? How about the Magic? They have some nice pieces, wuld Gilbert Arenas be able to play the 2 alongside Rose? How about the Atlanta Hawks? Maybe they do Joe Johnson for Boozer? Get a Horford-Boozer-Smith frontline going? How about the Charlotte Bobcats? Maybe do Stephen Jackson and Tyrus Thomas for Boozer? Detroit could also try for Boozer with Ben Gordon or Hamilton with Villanueva, or maybe New Jersey can throw together a decent package for Boozer? Wizards can make a play with their draft pick, nick young, and blatche...Toronto could dangle DeRozan and a draft pick, Houston has plenty of guys to dangle, maybe Courtney Lee and Luis Scola for Carlos Boozer? Phoenix could make a play for him, maybe Vince Carter for Boozer?

So as you can see, there are at least 10 teams that could use Boozer, and all 10 of those teams could make a fair value trade with the Bulls that will help them both now and in the future. Anything is possible. Chicago needs to start working the phones. Teams with high draft picks need to start calling the Bulls too. In a weak draft, if you can flip your first rounder and a trade exception or another player into Carlos Boozer, you have made out pretty well for the next couple of years.

revgen wrote:

CHI alarmed by his lapses on d.

Boozer has never been a good defender ever in his career. So if Chicago is "alarmed" at his lack of defense, then somebody in the scouting department should be getting a pink slip pretty soon.

BDG wrote:He has one nasty contract though.

Good luck.

I think they really shot themselves in the foot with that signing. Derrick Rose didn't have anyone in the interior to take pressure off him. And defensively he's just horrible.

bruddahmanmatt wrote:Taj Gibson > Carlos Boozer. The added depth by having both of them there is nice, but Chicago could use a quality 2 guard more than anything else, that way maybe Rose could you know, actually work on becoming a facilitator.

therealdeal wrote:Good luck.

Sources: Bulls & Raptors Considering Carlos Boozer-Andrea Bargnani Trade



By Marc Stein | ESPN.com

The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors have engaged in exploratory trade discussions on a deal that would swap the Bulls' Carlos Boozer for the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Other players with smaller contracts would have to be added to the deal to make the salary-cap math work should talks indeed progress to a more serious level. But sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that both teams have considered the move.

From Chicago's perspective, sources said, Bargnani's arrival could help address its glaring lack of 3-point shooting and brighten the overall look of its payroll, given that the Italian forward makes $5 million less than Boozer this season.

Despite his well-chronicled defensive deficiencies, Bargnani would figure to be an effective pick-and-roll partner for Derrick Rose once the point guard makes his expected return from knee surgery after the All-Star break.

The biggest impediment to such a trade, sources said, is believed to be whether Toronto can realistically afford having both Rudy Gay and Boozer on its payroll beyond this season.

The Raptors, who acquired Gay from Memphis last week, have been openly shopping Bargnani, who resumed the most disappointing season of his career Wednesday night after missing 26 games with an elbow injury.

Although Toronto's desire to upgrade its front line is an open secret -- as confirmed by its long-running interest in trading for the Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol before the forward's foot injury this week -- it's believed the luxury-tax implications of trading for Boozer ultimately could dissuade the Raptors from such a deal, even if Chicago proved willing.

Raptors president Bryan Colangelo told local reporters after the Gay trade that the team was prepared to stray into luxury-tax territory for the "right transaction." It remains to be seen whether a deal for Boozer qualifies.

It has long been assumed around the league that the Bulls might consider releasing Boozer through the NBA's one-time amnesty provision at season's end. But Boozer has tuned out such talk to be one of Chicago's most productive players this season, rallying from a so-so start to average 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in January.

Following the Bulls' 128-96 loss to the Nuggets on Thursday night, Boozer addressed handling the trade rumors.

"It's part of the game, man," he said. "Everybody been in that (situation). This is my 11th year. You can't worry about stuff that doesn't happen."

The NBA's annual trade deadline is Feb. 21, and the Raptors are known to be actively searching for a new home for Bargnani, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft but has gradually fallen out of favor with Raptors fans after Toronto's four consecutive seasons out of the playoffs.

The Raptors' list of potential trade partners is likely to be limited, however, because Bargnani -- on top of his on-court struggles this season -- has two years left on his contract after this one, valued at slightly more than $22 million totall.

Bulls Have No Plans To Amnesty Carlos Boozer In Offseason



By K.C. Johnson, Tribune reporter

8:52 p.m. CST, February 7, 2013
DENVER -- The Bulls and Raptors engaged in trade talks centered on Carlos Boozer and Andrea Bargnani over a week ago, according to two league sources.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein first reported the talks, which a source told the Tribune were initiated by the Bulls and initially dismissed because of the Raptors' desire to land the Lakers' Pau Gasol. Though talks are not currently active, a source said the Raptors know the trade is available and could expand to include Nate Robinson and John Lucas III. Another source suggested it's unlikely the Raptors would take on Boozer's contract, which has $9.1 million more than Bargnani's over the next two seasons.

The Raptors recently added Rudy Gay's long-term contract via trade.

Boozer makes $5 million more than Bargnani this season. Coach Tom Thibodeau long has been an advocate of Lucas III, who is playing sparingly for the Raptors.

Despite the talks, there are no plans to use the amnesty provision on Boozer this summer. Boozer is having a strong season, but shedding his salary could improve the Bulls' long-term financial picture.

Memory lane: Friday will mark just the second time Boozer has played in Utah since leaving the Jazz after six seasons as a free agent in the summer of 2010. Booed loudly every time he touched the ball on Feb. 9, 2011, Boozer posted 14 points and six rebounds in the Bulls' 91-86 victory.

That game famously turned out to be Jerry Sloan's last as Jazz coach. The Bulls didn't play in Utah during the lockout-shortened season.

"Lot of great memories," Boozer said. "We fell short (of a championship) but competed."

Coach's corner: Thibodeau and Nuggets coach George Karl flashed mutual respect for each other. Calling him "one of the great coaches in the league," Thibodeau said Karl's consistent success at multiple stops makes him special.

"I just love the way he is as a guy too," Thibodeau said. "What you see is what you get. He's true to himself. I think he's a great teacher."

Karl called the Bulls "maybe the most efficient team in the league" and chuckled when asked why it took so long for Thibodeau to land a head coaching job.

"You should ask personnel directors and general managers," he said. "Tom's the type of guy who personality-wise when you hang around him he's kind of boring and quiet. He's not flamboyant or has that clever personality.

"Tom's a basketball guy, a gym guy, an X and O guy, a film room guy. He doesn't have the celebrity personality that maybe draws attention to guys who makes those decisions."