Lakers pick up Carlos Boozer

[benji]

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... les-lakers

Boozer was released by the Chicago Bulls earlier this week and teams with cap space could make a bid on a portion of his $16.8 million contract. The Lakers made the highest bid and were awarded him on Thursday.

[Jackal]

[Andrew]

You meme appropriately, Jackal. Boozer is not devoid of talent, he's capable of doing some nice things offensively, and his competency as a rebounder is probably somewhat overlooked. However, he also has a tendency to disappoint or under-perform when his team requires him to step up.

Then again, the contract that the Bulls gave him probably set the bar a little too high in that regard. For the money that the Lakers will be paying him, they'll likely get more bang for their buck.

[dare]

Boozer for 3M deal or something like that is a great deal better than having D-League players on the team.

[Kevin]

Meh. The teams are running out of somebody (that's decent) to pick up in free agency so I guess this is a win?

[NovU]

Ed Davis
Julius Randle
Jordan Hill
Robert Sacre

Now you are adding Boozer to the list. Boozer will probably still average 10-15ppg with 7-10reb. I don't know if that's worth in a season where the Lakers should tank and develop young talents like Ed and Julius. You also just paid Jordan Hill handsome money so you don't want him to stink.

I am guessing Boozer will hurt Ed Davis's value the most though. The Lakers probably will utilize Hill/Randle/Boozer the most. I fully expect Ed to be the under 10mpg guy.

[Alpha_]

Poor Ed Davis.

[_Steve_]

With the already loaded frontcourt the Lakers possess, Boozer has at least not to worry about playing during 4th quarters.

[[Q]]

I love all the ways news outlets are describing the situation: The Lakers being "awarded" Boozer or "winning" Boozer.

[benji]

I wonder what the bid was.

[Stress Fracture]

That means little to no minutes for Sacre. I still think Davis will get close to 15 minutes.

[Andrew]

I love all the ways news outlets are describing the situation: The Lakers being "awarded" Boozer or "winning" Boozer.

Technically correct.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I love all the ways news outlets are describing the situation: The Lakers being "awarded" Boozer or "winning" Boozer.

There only a few places remaining where the Lakers can still win...

[air gordon]

You meme appropriately, Jackal. Boozer is not devoid of talent, he's capable of doing some nice things offensively, and his competency as a rebounder is probably somewhat overlooked. However, he also has a tendency to disappoint or under-perform when his team requires him to step up.

Then again, the contract that the Bulls gave him probably set the bar a little too high in that regard. For the money that the Lakers will be paying him, they'll likely get more bang for their buck.

what is boozer's talent? it's not defense and I don't think it's offense either- he's an inefficient scorer with a usage rate

I wonder what the bid was.

our media friends are reporting ~3mill

[Andrew]

Inefficient doesn't equal untalented or unskilled. He's been a 20-10 player in the past, and even during his time in Chicago, he's still up around those marks per 36. He can score and rebound, if nothing else. I'm not saying he's outstanding in either area, but he is at least reasonably competent.

[[Q]]

I could see a situation this season where Randle outplays Boozer for the starting gig.

[NovU]

Inefficient doesn't equal untalented or unskilled. He's been a 20-10 player in the past, and even during his time in Chicago, he's still up around those marks per 36. He can score and rebound, if nothing else. I'm not saying he's outstanding in either area, but he is at least reasonably competent.

Agreed. He was quite stellar in the early season. He just couldn't keep it up(motivation?) as Taj became very effective so Thibs stayed with Taj. I think Boozer grew discontent otherwise could have played better.

Unfortunately the Lakers aren't playing to win next season so Boozer's value probably takes another hit.

[_Steve_]

Boozer knows he's playing for (most likely) the last big contract of his career. I expect him to be productive again and show up numbers like he did when last season started. But maybe that's just wishful thinking...

[air gordon]

Inefficient doesn't equal untalented or unskilled. He's been a 20-10 player in the past, and even during his time in Chicago, he's still up around those marks per 36. He can score and rebound, if nothing else. I'm not saying he's outstanding in either area, but he is at least reasonably competent.

what boozer was is irrelevant. how did he do last year other then rebound well? what can he do now? just because the ball goes in the basket does not make him competent.

boozer has become a stretch 4 without the stretch 4 skills. he can't shoot 3's and his mid range game is unimpressive. he doesn't create his own shots from the post. he's no longer a pick n roll player because he's lost athleticism and doesn't finish well on contested shots. he doesn't get to the free throw line. doesn't attack the basket. his offensive win shares was negative. his on court rating was negative. his ts% was .489% lol. the bulls scored more points when he was not on the court.

the bulls were desperate for scoring but still Thibs kept the reasonably competent Boozer on the bench in the 4th... even coming out of a timeout during offense/defense situations lol

[Andrew]

Well, best of luck to the Lakers.

[Bruce]

Hopefully, Boozer can teach Randle a thing or two. They are both practically the same weight & height. So maybe Boozer can show Randle some tricks.

[Kevin]

Or maybe it would be the other way around.............

[AADC]

Or maybe it would be the other way around.............

I don't think so. Boozer is a veteran, he can help Randle.