With Derrick Rose injured and the Chicago Bulls' chances of contending in the Eastern Conference appearing slim, the franchise is expected to seek trade partners who have an interest in small forward Luol Deng, according to the New York Daily News' Mitch Lawrence. Additionally -- and this is perhaps more newsworthy -- Lawrence reports the team will use the amnesty provision on forward Carlos Boozer this summer.
Bulls aim to trade Luol Deng and amnesty Carlos Boozer, according to report
The Chicago Bulls will be looking to trade Luol Deng, who would otherwise become a free agent this summer.
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Boozer would make $16.8 million next season, and the Bulls could stay farther away from the luxury tax threshold if they cut his salary from the books. They have yet to use their amnesty allowance from the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that gives them the ability to shave one contract off their salary cap, so long that it was a contract signed prior to the new CBA.
Chicago would still have to pay Boozer his salary, but it wouldn’t count against the salary cap.
As is, Chicago is pushing the tax line for the 2014-15 season, and that’s considering Deng’s contract ends after this year.
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There have been conflicting reports about what Chicago will do regarding Deng, as ESPN Chicago reported in December that the Bulls weren’t looking to trade him.
It’s expected that Deng could vie for close to a maximum contract, and Lawrence reports that the Bulls have no desire to pay him close to the max. The 28-year-old is averaging 19 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game for Chicago this season, so he certainly could draw some interest in the trade market.
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