Boozer on the Block?
Added on Feb 08, 2013 by Scott in
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It seems like Bulls forward Carlos Boozer has been on the trading block since he arrived in Chicago in 2010. After four straight seasons of near 20-10 basketball with the Jazz, Boozer has yet to reach the same level, due in part to a series of nagging injuries. The latest rumor to circulate NBA circles involves a swap for Raptors sharp-shooting big man Andrea Bargnani.
With the February 21st trade deadline looming, both the Bulls and Raptors are positioning themselves to mask weaknesses. Boozer’s consistent production on the glass would be missed, but the combination of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson should be enough once Derrick Rose returns to the lineup. The addition of Bargnani would give Chicago another long range shooter, which is desperately needed.
Despite being mired in a dreadful 17-32 season, the Raptors have been active players on the market. Last week they shipped veteran point guard Jose Calderon and promising young power forward Ed Davis to Memphis in exchange for scoring small forward Rudy Gay. Gaining Boozer would offset the loss of Davis, but absorbing two lucrative contracts might not be financially feasible for the future of the franchise.
The Bulls are hanging tough in the East as they eagerly await Rose’s return from ACL rehab. Boozer has been vital in avoiding a collapse, so disrupting team chemistry at this point could be detrimental. Especially for a player like Bargnani, who is suffering through an injury-plagued season that has seen his field goal percentage dip to 40%.
With the Heat and Knicks ranked near the bottom in league rebounding, it’s apparent that up tempo offense and perimeter shooting is ruling the East. If the Bulls want to compete with either team come playoff time, making a move to acquire another shooter should be a top priority. Whether or not Bargnani is the target remains to be seen.
Source: ESPN.com
