Why the Chicago Bulls Should Keep Carlos Boozer for Another Year or Trade Him

The Chicago Bulls should bite the bullet and keep Carlos Boozer on the team for one more year, even though many of the team's fans are fed up with his declining play.

Bulls fans have good reason to be upset. In Game 6 against Philadelphia, with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng all injured, Boozer needed to step up. Instead, he went 1-for-11 from the field, made several crunch-time mistakes, and was a big part of the reason that the team lost by a one point.

Boozer was already frying fans' nerves this season. Although he remained healthy, his averages dipped to a relatively pedestrian 15 points and eight rebounds, and he became more of a pick-and-pop shooter than a low post player.

He also played horrific defense. Chicago signed him to average 20 points and 10 rebounds as a low post bruiser, just like he did with Utah.

But Boozer is still a valuable complementary player, and the team is much better with him in the rotation.  

The reason is simple: Boozer remains Chicago's only offensively gifted front-court player. Amnestying him, which is what many fans are calling for, would be a waste of his value and rob the team of most of its post offense.

Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah and Omer Asik are all good players but they are known for their defense. None of them can bring the skilled offense and low post moves when they are needed.

The Bulls can keep Boozer for one more year and then when Nikola Mirotic is ready to come over from Europe next year, amnesty him.  

Nonetheless, Chicago's best option is to trade Boozer for another offensive power forward with a big contract who is more of a low post force and capable of creating his own offense. That kind of addition would take away the Bulls' need for Boozer and help fix their offensive struggles.

Trading for Amare Stoudemire would be the dream scenario. Stoudemire is a better fit for the Bulls because he can create his own offense and dominate in the post while Boozer is a better option to complement Carmelo Anthony.  

That trade could be a huge win-win deal in the offseason, particularly because the Bulls can amnesty Stoudemire and his hefty contract if he is ineffective.

There are other great options as well. The Orlando Magic are desperate to add talent around Dwight Howard to encourage him to stay. Boozer would be a good complement to Howard and the Bulls could get power forward Glen Davis and shooting guard J.J. Redick (who they wanted in 2010 and would fit well in the Bulls offense) in return. Or New Jersey might be willing to do a sign and trade deal for Gerald Wallace, particularly if he wants to leave.

So, options abound but whatever their decision is, amnestying Boozer now is the wrong decision for the Bulls.