Dan,

Do you understand how the amnesty process works? Because when I hear anyone on the radio talking about amnestying Boozer, it doesn't seem like they do. If the Bulls amnesty Boozer they don't necessarily pay the $47M they owe him; rather, he goes into the waiver process, and other teams bid on how much they're willing to pay him for the remaining three years of his contract.

Boozer, while vastly overpaid, is not in fact a bad player. In a waiver process, I'd estimate some team would at least be able to pay him $6M per over the next 3 seasons. If so, that's $18M. So the Bulls would be on the hook for $29M if that happened.

That's a lot of money, *BUT*, consider: many are saying the Bulls keep Boozer for this year and amnesty him next year. Well, if they do that, they're on the hook for the $15M they owe him this year, and they whatever isn't picked up in waivers for the final two years. The Bulls likely save little to no money amnestying Boozer this year vs. next year. If you think you stand a good chance of amnestying Boozer after this year, it makes more sense to go ahead and do it now because:

1) Boozer had a good season this year; he was healthy, and put up good numbers. If Boozer gets injured or simply plays poorly, amnestying him next year will be much more expensive than it would have been this year.

2) Amnestying Boozer makes it possible to avoid paying tax this year, without having to lose assets you'd rather retain.

The argument against losing Boozer would be that replacing his production would be difficult. However, that doesn't matter anymore because next season is a wash in any case. It makes sense to amnesty Boozer now; way more sense than trading more valuable players like Deng or Noah.

Radio guys like yourself need to get that idea out there so the fanbase understands the dynamics and can pressure the organization to do the smart thing here.

If it means Luol Deng and/or Joakim Noah must go by way of trade, so be it.

If the Bulls amnesty Boozer they don't necessarily pay the $47M they owe him; rather, he goes into the waiver process, and other teams bid on how much they're willing to pay him for the remaining three years of his contract.

Boozer, while vastly overpaid, is not in fact a bad player. In a waiver process, I'd estimate some team would at least be able to pay him $6M per over the next 3 seasons. If so, that's $18M. So the Bulls would be on the hook for $29M if that happened.

Only teams which are under the salary cap can offer substantial dollars...which certainly limits the potential bidders for Boozer. Also, the luxury tax doesn't become particularly onerous until 2013-2014. The Bulls will wait.

Only teams which are under the salary cap can offer substantial dollars...which certainly limits the potential bidders for Boozer.

Also, the luxury tax doesn't become particularly onerous until 2013-2014. The Bulls will wait.