32 year old Carlos Boozer has been acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers on amnesty waiver. There were nine teams with cap space who made a blind bid for the remaining portion of Boozer's $16.8 million deal with the Chicago Bulls. Among the bidders, it was the Lakers who won with a bid of $3.25 million.
The Lakers considered Boozer as "an established veteran and a proven All-Star who will be a welcome addition to our team."
According to Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak "We're very pleased to have won the bidding process and to have gained his rights, and look forward to his contributions next season."
Boozer has averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 76 games for the Bulls last season. Game as Coach Tom Thibodeau often didn't insert him in the fourth quarter and has only played 28.2 minutes per game.
Boozer was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. And as a member of Team USA, Boozer won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Chicago Bulls needed room to sign up Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic that is why the decided to free Boozer. Although in such a circumstance, Bulls still needs to pay what remains of Boozers contract minus the bid from Lakers which will amount to $13.6 million.
The power forward has started his NBA career in 2002 after being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. After being in two seasons with the team, he was released from his contract making him a restricted free agent and then signed with the Utah Jazz. He stayed the longest with Jazz for six seasons before being acquired by the Chicago Bulls through a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz.
Aside from adding Boozer to the Lakers, they have also recently acquired free agent Ed Davis as well as Jordan Hill. Both players have been signed on a two year contract. They also have Robert Sacre on their listing. Now that Boozer is with the Lakers, he will be teaming up with Lakers lead star Kobe Bryant and working their way to the playoffs.
