Sources: Boozer could go to Chicago
By Marc Stein and Chad Ford
ESPN.com

Another major multi-team trade might be looming in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls having discussed a deal that would be headlined by Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources stressed to ESPN.com that no deal was imminent Thursday and that both Portland and Utah are still evaluating multiple trade scenarios. But two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed that there have been substantive talks regarding a trade that would land Boozer in Chicago, Hinrich in Portland and Tyrus Thomas in Utah.

A deal featuring those main components would deliver the elite low-post scorer that the Bulls have been chasing for years in Boozer and furnish Portland with a lead guard in Hinrich that the Blazers are known to rate highly as a potential backcourt mate for Brandon Roy. It's possible that other players would be added to balance out the transaction from a salary-cap perspective if the three teams elect to take these talks further.

Yet even if this deal collapses, sources say it is clear that the Jazz are becoming increasingly open to the possibility of moving Boozer now to increase their financial flexibility to re-sign restricted free agent Paul Millsap.

Despite fresh reports Thursday about the Blazers weighing whether to sign Millsap to an offer sheet, Hinrich is the player Portland prefers, according to one source close to the process, after the Blazers came so close last week to landing the versatile Hedo Turkoglu.

Boozer has only one season left at $12.7 million after declining the option in his contract to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. It's believed that the Jazz are determined to keep Millsap but are concerned about the luxury-tax consequences of signing him to a long-term deal.

Im not sure how I feel about this. The pros are Tyrus is gone and we actually have someone you can give the ball in the post. The con I see is that the Bulls would be a little thin at guard. Now that Gordon is gone, I think you might need to keep Kirk around.

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If this happens and Kirk leaves who is the Bulls first guard off the bench? Pargo? Still it would be nice to see the Bulls have a front court player with a post move and a starting lineup of Rose Salmons Deng Boozer and Miller with Noah coming off the bench wouldnt be half bad. And they wouldnt have to worry about signing Thomas to any type of long term deal.

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I would love this deal. The whole team needs to be built around Rose. Hinrich just doesn't fit with him. I don't even care about next year. I just want contracts gone.

This sounds like a great deal.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Id do this in a heartbeat.

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So it all comes down to the Bulls signing the right guys to all that money. Do people have faith in Gar and Pax to pull that off?

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Me too!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Agreed that this would be great for the Bulls. I think it makes them better next year AND gives them a better chance in 2010. If Boozer can return to form, then maybe he becomes a viable option. If not, he can see the door and his big contract can come off the books. Then they don't have to worry about renouncing Tyrus's rights just to afford one max guy. Love this deal. As much as I like Hinrich, they aren't winning a title without doing something big. This enables them to do that.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Plus makes them a better team in the interim.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Um.... we can't get a player of Boozer's calibar for a lot less than his salary? I mean... he's not exactly dominant.

It is one year, and then you are in a great position for next year's offseason. I really do not see a down side to this deal if it happens.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I don't think this trade will happen, but, if so, the Bulls better know something that we don't with the free agent class of 2010.

I often wonder what this team would look like now if Jay Williams had not been a dumbass.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

It would be without Rose more than likely.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Did anyone hear Chad Ford on ESPN1000 say he thought Boozer might take a discount to stay in Chicago if this deal went through? Trying to figure out why he said this (or if he did).

I thought I heard it and went to check the podcast and despite the fact that the description of todays podcast says CJH talked to Chad... his interview isn't on it.


Anyone else hear it?

i am all for this. we have an allstar caliber point gaurd and an elite low post man? isnt that what we have been asking for since scott skiles took the job from cartwright?

If it means sending Tyrus Thomas out to Utah, I'd make this move for Carlos Boozer...I can almost assure you that Jerry Sloan won't tolerate any B.S. from Tyrus if this trade becomes a reality...

Sloan may actually be the best thing to happen to Tyrus. He will either live up to his abilities or Sloan will kick his ass. Even pushing 70, Jerry could still beat Thomas' ass.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Agreed.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I doubt Boozer would take a discount to play anywhere, considering he snaked his way out of his deal with Cleveland to sign with Utah.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Great trade for the Bulls if they can make it happen. It does leave
the Bulls a little light on guards but Boozer would be a great addition
and hopefully one of the draft picks pans out to be Tyrus-like or
even better. The key to the deal is getting at least 70 games out of
Boozer, he has had some injury problems the last 3-4 years. If he
would happen to go down for a significant portion of the season you
could kiss the playoffs goodbye. Love the fact that his contract
goes away after one year. If he works out and is willing to work out a
decent contract great, if not say goodbye to him and go shopping.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

From Rotoworld:

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Second City Saint

Did it mention as to what the sticking point was with this not happening and who was pulling away from the table? I can't imagine it would be the Bulls backing out.

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

I don't know. Over the last 5 years, it always seems like the Bulls think they are sitting on a goldmine with Tyrus, Deng, Hinrich, and Gordon (before he left).

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Exactly - for once do what the Bears did finally and pull the trigger on a fucking deal that will make this team championship worthy going into 2010 to give these free agents SOME reason to sign with us. Tyrus Thomas and Hinrich aren't the incentive that guys like Lebron and Wade need. Boozer is.

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

I'm not sure I understand you. No one knows what will happen in 2010. There is no crystal ball.

However, we do know what could happen, and it could be an immediate league-wide shift of talent and the Bulls would be in a prime position to strike.

Even if 2010 fails out, it is still the right move. The chance to get a perennial all-star or even hall of famer can't be taken lightly. There is a good chance that 5 or more all-stars will be available and the Bulls will have one of the best positions of any team.

This deal would give the Bulls a chance to get Lebron especially if the Nets don't move to Brooklyn.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

That is so ridiculous, I don't even know how to comment.

Anyway, Boozer is at best a 20-10 player who is going to ask for at least $20 million. You mean to tell me we can't get a 16 - 8 guy for far less money?

Does Boozer make up the scoring that we lose from Gordon being gone?

Boozer will only be with the Bulls for one year. We can get a 16 - 8 guy after next season.

For next season, there isn't a 16-8 guy for less money and the Bulls have money to spend anyways.

In the messed up NBA, the biggest value in trades is the expiring contract and this is the most valuable season to have an expiring deal.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Ugie, you have no understanding of the big picture here, don't you have something better to do in the general discussion area?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I think it's worth the risk, but I think most of these guys will end up resigning with their own teams because of the difference in money their own teams can offer. The Bulls aren't the only team doing this so there are going to be some teams that are left holding big bags of cash. I'm sure the Bulls feel that they a realistic chance to land one of these guys, even with the possibility that these guys resign with their own teams.