The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Carlos Boozer on Thursday, winning a waiver bid for the power forward, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The winning bid was for $3.25 million, per Stein.
Lakers win waiver claim for Carlos Boozer, per report
Carlos Boozer is headed to Los Angeles with the Lakers winning the waiver claim.
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Bulls waived Boozer using the one-time amnesty provision earlier in the week. Although Boozer will still earn $16.8 million in the final year of his contract, the Lakers will only pay him a fraction of that.
NBA Free Agency
The 32-year-old Boozer was waived in order to create the necessary salary cap space for Chicago to sign former Laker Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic. Once being waived, Boozer was placed on waivers where teams with salary cap space could submit bids. The bid amount will count against the Lakers’ salary cap, while the Bulls will be obligated to cover the remaining salary.
Once one of the top power forwards in the NBA and a 20-10 threat on a nightly basis, Boozer’s production declined considerably in recent years. He averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season, the lowest totals since his rookie season. He will essentially swap places with Gasol.
Although the Lakers get Boozer at what is likely to be a cheap price, they won’t be able to flip him if he plays well. Players claimed through amnesty waivers are not eligible to be traded the following season.
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