Will Bulls trade for Boozer now and chase Wade next summer?
The NBA rumor mill has been churning today with talk of a possible three-way deal that would send Utah power forward Carlos Boozer to the Bulls. Tyrus Thomas would go to Utah and Kirk Hinrich to Portland.
A league insider confirmed that talks are taking place, but have not gotten detailed yet. It sounds like Utah is checking the trade market for Boozer, who could have opted out of his contract this summer. Instead, he decided to stick around for one more year at $12.7 million.
Another possibility that has been floated is Boozer going to Detroit for Richard Hamilton, who became expendable when the Pistons signed former Bulls guard Ben Gordon as a free agent.
The Bulls’ scenario might be preferable to the Jazz, because it could knock down their payroll. Utah reportedly wants to re-sign power forward Paul Millsap, but doing so would put the Jazz well into luxury tax territory.
Portland has the cap room to absorb some of Hinrich’s salary, which means Utah wouldn’t have to take $12 million back to match salaries for Boozer.
The Bulls would most likely get a player or two back from Portland in this scenario, either guard Steve Blake and/or forward Travis Outlaw.
One scenario that should work salary-wise is the Bulls sending Hinrich and Tim Thomas to Portland for Blake and Outlaw, then Tyrus Thomas goes to Utah for Boozer and the Jazz knock $8 million off this season’s payroll.
By trading Hinrich, the Bulls could theoretically sign Boozer to a long-term deal at around $12 million per season and still have cap room next summer. Fans that like to think big can imagine Miami guard Dwyane Wade coming home to fill that spot.
Or maybe Jannero Pargo will help recruit his old Arkansas buddy, Joe Johnson from the Hawks. Johnson used to hang out at the Berto Center during the summers when Pargo last played for the Bulls. Both Johnson and Wade can be free agents next year.
Keep in mind, while sources confirmed Boozer discussions, it's too soon to know how things will play out. The Oregonian newspaper reported Thursday that the Blazers are preparing an offer sheet for Millsap, a restricted free agent. But Utah would be able to match any offer for Millsap and Portland's interest in Hinrich has been rumored for months.
Boozer has been injury prone during his five years in Utah and played in just 37 games last season. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s best low-post scorers. His career playoff averages in 34 games are 20.4 points and 12.4 rebounds.
--Tyrus Thomas sent out a Tweet on Thursday afternoon that read simply, "GONE!" He followed it up with, "I'm not traded, just changing locations for the weekend."
--In other news, the Bulls signed first-round draft picks James Johnson and Taj Gibson on Thursday. Both were expected to take the court later in the day for the first summer-league practice.
From the point of view of on-court play, I can't believe I am asking this question.....but why to the Bulls have to include Tim Thomas in the deal? Aren't they counting on Tim Thomas and Jerome James expiring to give them cap room in the summer of 2010?
If they make this deal for Boozer, can they keep him beyond next season and still have one "full-boat" for a free agent?
If they do not make this deal and the roster stays basically status quo, will they have two "full-boats" in the summer of 2010?
what do you mean by full-boat?
They have 24 million available next year. They then need to extend Tyrus. Who knows how much that will cost given the bulls history of getting bent over the negotiating table...
Anyway a max guy should cost 13-15 million a year. So unless they renounce their rights to Tyrus and say they missed with the second pick in probably the deepest draft since Lebron they only can add one max guy. Assuming of course they don't chase them away like they have in the past.
The Bulls are clearly building their team around Rose and Deng. And Noah seems to be a keeper based on his recent play (let's hope it continues). So, the Bulls are looking to improve at SG (e.g. Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson) and PF (e.g. Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer) in the next 12 months. They have a lot of money coming off the books next summer (Miller, Thomas, Jeffries) to be a player in the summer of LeBron. But the key to this is the cap and the rules. Teams can only spend over the soft cap limit up to the luxury tax limit to sign their own free agents. For the Bulls to sign 2 superstars next summer, one of two things need to occur:
(1) One of those superstars has to be a Bull by the trading deadline
(2) The Bulls need to move Hinrich and Tyrus before free agency starts next summer
If neither occurs, then per my calculation the Bulls will be in a position to only sign one superstar.
That is true and one won't get it done we are too far away from being contenders to look to add only one player. Paxson has put this team in a very precarious position with the current makeup of the roster (3 Gaurds - 9 Forwards). Now it makes it tough to trade Kirk and get only a forward back. Match that with the fact that they have almost no money to spend before going into the Luxury Tax he has forced them to be inflexible in trades.
I really hope I am wrong but I don't see Paxson pulling the trigger on a big deal. Paxson hasn't shown the ability in his 6 years leading the bulls to be able to pull off anything close to that big. His biggest move was signing a 4 point 9 rebound guy to a 70 million dollar deal.
If the Bulls are serious about Boozer the Brittle, they might wish to chat with the Cubs about Milton the Mental.
Why would we trade for a guy who is always injured and is undoubtedly gonna pout when he doesnt get his 8 figure extension?
Theoretically we could use his skills but cant we wait until he is FA next year if we choose? We have Rose Hinrich Salmon and Pargo at guard which would make us thinner especially talent wise (who is out there to replace Kirk)
i think this is just over exuberance in clearing (even more) cap room to chase the Lebron/Wade and Bosh FA pipe dream!
PS this is like shopping for a used car...Boozer will cost us Brakes/Tires all around just to start with...lets keep shopping!
Well, let's look at why this should happen (or I guess since I am so late to the comment party should be re-explored)
1) The Bulls are losing 1 back-up and probably their "worst" starter. Yes, I think that Noah is a better player than Tyrus Thomas and I think it's by a country mile. So, we retain the same starting 5 with Boozer instead of Tyrus. If Boozer gets hurt? Well, wouldn't you know it we just drafted 2 PF's in the draft who are signed for a minimum of 3 years. James Johnson is going to be a darn good player too.
2) Although Hinrich's contract goes down in value and he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA (at the very least the best on the Bulls), getting rid of his contract frees up a lot of space in 2010. Tyrus is also due an extension in 2010. So, that adds up to what? $18-20 million that the Bulls are no longer committed too?
3) The best player changing teams is coming to the Bulls. I think that is always the barometer of a good deal when "your" team is bringing in the best guy.
At least that's my take on it.
So with Kirk gone..assuming... we have Rose salmons pargo and hunter...
its not so much of getting the better player than it is to acquire an ego thats has screwed teams in the past and will be a distraction until he gets his 65 million 5 year deal. What did utah win with him??
and who replaces Kirk..if either salmons or Rose get injured...we have lots of forwards..?
this trade makes NO sense!
This would make more sense to me than putting all your eggs in the 2010 FA basket. Boozer has a lot of question marks to be sure but when healthy is a stud. Sucks though to lose Kirk and Tyrus they are two of my favorite bulls players. If we could get Blake, Outlaw and Boozer though I would make the trade in a second!
Hope it happens.