Boozer: No issues with Paxson brothers

Utah power forward Carlos Boozer is in town for Corey Maggette’s basketball camp at Fenwick High School and gave another interview Tuesday on WMVP’s “Waddle & Silvy Show.”

A few weeks ago, Boozer said he expects to be traded and talked about how much he’d love to play for the Bulls. This time, he backed off the trade talk, saying he agreed to keep quiet and let the Jazz look for a deal.

But he was asked about his relationship with Jim Paxson, older brother of the Bulls’ vice president of basketball operations and a consultant for the team.

Back in 2004, Jim Paxson was general manager in Cleveland when Boozer was set free from the third-year of his rookie contract, a decision made by former owner Gordon Gund. The Cavs thought they would re-sign him for the mid-level exception, but Boozer instead bolted for Utah and a six-year, $70-million deal. Paxson didn’t last much longer with the Cavs.

“I’ve always had respect for Jim,” Boozer said on the radio. “Obviously he drafted me when I first came out of college, so I have huge respect for him. I’ve seen him many times after that. Obviously, if I came here, me and John Paxson wouldn’t have any issues at all.”

I looked into that issue recently and was told whether or not hard feelings still exist about the Cleveland deal, John and Jim Paxson would never let those get in the way if they thought acquiring Boozer would make the Bulls a better team.

Jim Paxson recently remarried and moved to Arizona, so he spends almost all of his time away from the Berto Center.

--By the way, I’ve got to give huge props to Maggette for offering a five-day camp, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and including lunch for just $100. This year’s camp was for high-school aged boys and girls.

Anyone who wants to keep this camp in mind for next year should be able to find details at Fenwickfriars.com.

--Speaking of camps, there may be a few spots left for the inaugural Derrick Rose camp, which is for kids age 9-18 from Aug. 4-7 at the Joy of the Game center in Deerfield. Info can be found at drosehoops.com.

CHANDLER FOR OKAFOR ALL ABOUT CASH
The Hornets and Bobcats completed a big-man trade sending ex-Bulls Tyson Chandler to Charlotte and Emeka Okafor to New Orleans.

Stat-wise, you’d probably have to say Okafor is the better player, so New Orleans got the best of the deal -- but it’s close. Over the past three years, Okafor has averaged 13.8 points and 10.7 rebounds, with Chandler at 10.2 points and 11.2 boards. Both are good defenders.

The big difference, though, is money. Chandler has two years left on his contract at $24.6 million (originally signed in 2005 when he played for the Bulls). Okafor has five years left at $62.7 million, which means Charlotte cleared nearly $40 million in future salary commitments with this trade.

At the same time, Chandler will make more this season, so the Hornets shaved $1.3 million off their luxury-tax bill, which is good for them. Whether Okafor will mesh with PF David West is a question, though, and the Hornets still need a reliable wing scorer.

TIM THOMAS TO DALLAS
Fresh off a contract buyout with the Bulls, Tim Thomas is set to sign with Dallas, according to multiple reports.

SHAQ DENIED AT WHITE HOUSE
There was a funny story in The Washington Post about Shaquille O’Neal’s friendly bet that he could show up unannounced at the White House and get through the door. He couldn’t -- and now owes a friend 1,000 push ups. Here’s the link:

Shaq denied entrance to White House