The Chicago Bulls reportedly want to sign-and-trade veteran Carlos Boozer to create cap space to pursue New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony in free agency. ESPN's Marc Stein suggests the possibility of Chicago taking on the bad contract of Knicks guard J.R. Smith to help convince New York to trade Anthony.
Boozer has long been rumored to become a victim of the amnesty clause this summer, but a report from Stein indicates Chicago is trying first to find a sign-and-trade for Boozer.
"You continue to hear rumbles that Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is adamantly against the idea of setting Boozer free via amnesty, even though the 32-year-old is finally poised to enter the final year of his contract, valued in 2014-15 at $16.8 million," Stein wrote on Tuesday. "Sources briefed on Chicago's thinking say the Bulls are going to do everything they can to try to find a trading partner for Boozer before seriously considering the amnesty option."
Chicago has until July 15 to amnesty Boozer.
While Chicago would have to make multiple roster moves to create space for Anthony, the team is reportedly optimistic about their chances of convincing Anthony leave New Yorker this summer in free agency.
"The whispers out of Chicago for the past month have been increasingly hopeful when it comes to the Bulls' chances of swiping Melo away from the Knicks," Stein wrote. "No one is saying so for public consumption, but quiet optimism about their chances is palpable.
"Melo's repeated public claims in recent weeks that he's prepared to prioritize winning over top dollar was the first bit of encouragement. The subsequent news that the 2014-15 salary cap is projected to be nearly $5 million higher than it was this season only added to the sentiment."
Stein also proposed the possibility of Chicago taking back the contract of Smith in order to entice New York into a sign-and-trade involving Boozer and Anthony.
Anthony, who missed the playoffs this season for the first time in his career, announced in October he would opt out of his contract in July and become a free agent.
