NBA Trade Rumors: Bulls Will Not Find Right Deal to Move Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls seem to be willing to trade Carlos Boozer, but his contract and declining play make it almost impossible.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com wrote this of the Bulls interest in moving Boozer: "Chicago would give the Lakers Carlos Boozer in a heartbeat, but that won't get it done for Gasol. The Lakers would likely want Luol Deng thrown into the trade, which would be a deal breaker for the Bulls."

Boozer has put up respectable numbers (15 points and eight rebounds per game), but the astute GM will examine the competition and realize Boozer has routinely disappeared against tough opponents.

In many of those games, Taj Gibson finishes because of his defensive prowess, but he offers little in the way of consistent offense.

The Bulls realize Gibson isn't the answer either, thus they are trying to improve their post scoring options. Pau Gasol is a much better player than Boozer is, though it isn't immediately apparent to what degree by looking at the stats.

Gasol is averaging 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, but the edge is even bigger that those 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds. Gasol shares the floor with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Bryant takes a ton of shots, and Bynum reduces the low-post opportunities Gasol gets.

In Chicago, he would be fed the ball on the block as much as he's been since he was in Memphis.

That said, the Bulls can't get him, because to include Deng in the deal is too much. The Lakers realize to just acquire Boozer and C.J. Watson is a lose for them because of what they lose with Gasol. 

I believe the Bulls would include Deng in a deal that brought Dwight Howard, but that is a very complicated situation. Howard has to sign the extension, blah, blah, blah—it all contributes to the doubt that the Bulls will be able to move Boozer.

Frankly, how attractive is a 30-year-old, non-defensive-minded, non-athletic power forward in the second year of a five-year deal that pays him $15 million annually?

Obviously, not very, as it appears all possible suitors have contingencies the Bulls cannot accommodate. The Bulls roster is solid, but I still don't believe this team is strong enough to defeat Miami in a series.

Apparently, Bulls' management feels the same way. If they were confident they had a team capable of winning it all, without tweaks, would they be interested in dealing anyone from their core?

Probably not.

Still, the team has had so much success over the past two years, going to war with what it has isn't the worst thing that could happen.

It will likely be the only option as any major shakeup is hampered by teams unwillingness to take Boozer alone and/or the Bulls' unwillingness to part with Deng.

The only way the Bulls will ever be able to part with Boozer before his contract is up is as an expiring contract or through the amnesty clause.