The Chicago Bulls are trying to figure out their next move, especially in regards to the 2014 offseason. After losing Derrick Rose for the assumed remainder of the season, the Bulls traded away All-Star Luol Deng in favor of draft picks and money compensation. Could they be looking to make similar moves when the season is over?
The Chicago Tribune was the first to report that the Bulls have considered using their amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer in the offseason. Boozer has been a bit of a disappearing act the last few season, riddled by inconsistency on the court. The Bulls would ideally likely to wipe his salary off the books to have room for pursuing a max-contract player like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Bulls are not committed to releasing Boozer. He reports that NBA sources claim the team is 50/50 on the idea considering the team is now below the luxury tax line. Chicago has only merely flirted with the possibility, but could opt to let Boozer just finish out his current deal and then walk away via free agency.
Boozer is not immune to these rumors that have been swirling since the Deng trade. The big man says the talks of a release do not impact his play on the court and he understands that everything in the league is merely business.
"It's just part of the business," Boozer said, via the Chicago Tribune. "It's part of being in the league. You're going to hear rumors about you and your teammates.I've been through it a thousand times. Just something you deal with. Just kind of block everything out, just try to hoop, get your team as high up as you can, and whatever happens is going to happen. There's a buiness side of basketball that a lot of fans and lot of media don't understand."
So with Boozer's future still up in the air, what other moves could the Bulls be thinking of? The first could be a return of Deng. The Cleveland Cavaliers insist that the trade was not a rental move to get them to the playoffs and they intend on keeping Deng around long-term. However, the two sides are not talking about an extension just yet because the Cavaliers are also eyeing James in free agency. Do not rule out the Bulls attempting to bring him back if the two sides can finally agree on a contract deal.
The Chicago Sun Times also reports that Lance Stephenson is a major target in free agency. The Indiana Pacers intend to keep him around, but several teams might out-bid them. The Bulls are aware that if they are going to contend for a title next season, they need size to battle the Pacers and the Heat. Stephenson would be the ideal candidate.
