Bulls looking to create cap space for Anthony or Gasol.
The Chicago Bulls have reportedly notified Carlos Boozer that he could be waived using the amnesty provision, but no final decision has been made, ESPN reports.
After the Bulls met with New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony on Tuesday, they also have a planned visit with Los Angeles Lakers veteran Pau Gasol on Thursday.
However, in order to clear salary-cap space to sign either of those two free agents, they would have to release Boozer or use him in a sign-and-trade deal.
While Boozer is in the final year of his contract which will pay him $16.8m this season, the Bulls are encountering two pivotal problems in their bid to create space.
It is understood that owner Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t particularly fond of the idea of using the amnesty provision on Boozer, and the Knicks are not interested in any potential sign-and-trade deal in return for Anthony.
As a result, the Bulls have until July 18 to use the clause which would remove his salary from their books and put them in a position to make a significant offer for their primary target Anthony, although he will have to sacrifice a significant amount of money in comparison to what he could take with the Knicks.
If the Bulls were to waive Boozer, they would have around $9.7m in cap space, while Boozer would be awarded to the highest bidder to pay a portion of his salary or he would become a free agent if there were no bids.
Meanwhile, if used in a sign-and-trade, the Bulls would be able to take back more than $20m in salary, and so naturally that would be their ideal scenario as that would give them more money to negotiate with.
Boozer averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 assists per game last season but he has rarely been a popular figure with the majority of Bulls fans and his exit would be welcomed if it gave the organisation the opportunity to sign Anthony.
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