What Will This Season Look Like for Carlos Boozer?

After being claimed from the Chicago Bulls off amnesty waivers this summer, Carlos Boozer faces an uncertain future with his new team—the Los Angeles Lakers.

A perennial starter and two-time All-Star, Boozer could be at the beginning of that long journeyman decline—playing out a series of one-year deals with diminishing returns. Or, he could become a useful cog for a team that is facing its own questions of reinvention.

The 32-year-old power forward has been to the playoffs for the past eight seasons in a row. He also played alongside Kobe Bryant for the 2008 U.S. gold-medal team in Beijing.

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During his introductory press conference, Boozer said all the right things about reuniting with Bryant, per Dave McMenamin for ESPN LA:

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I see his work ethic. I see his drive. I see his vision, his focus. And to be able to play with him here is going to be exciting. It's going to be magnified and I'm excited for it. He's one of the best players to ever put on a jersey and his drive to win is very contagious.

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During that same presser, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said: “Personally I know he's going to have a great year this year and, at his age, there's no reason why he can't play three, four, five more years and I think that's his expectation as well.”

But at what level can Boozer still be expected to perform? It's no secret his stats have been decreasing in recent years. Last season, the 6'9” frontcourt player averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, compared to the previous season's numbers of 16.2 points and 9.8 boards.

And going back to his prime years with the Utah Jazz, Boozer averaged 18.6 points and 10.2 rebounds over the course of six seasons.

As his game has slowly degraded, the veteran has found himself sitting on the bench during critical game situations. Tom Thibodeau, coach of the Bulls, increasingly assigned the bulk of second- and fourth-quarter minutes to Taj Gibson last season.

Writing for Silver Screen and Roll, Dakota Schmidt acknowledges Boozer's defensive weaknesses but feels he can still be a valuable part of the offensive picture:

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Boozer's post-up ability has always been one of the biggest centerpieces of his offensive repertoire. When he's able to utilize his muscular 260-pound frame inside the low-post, he showcases a solid capability to score. His brute force is one of the bigger reasons behind his low-post success with his main strength being his extremely solid footwork.

Although that ability has taken a small dip over the past few seasons, Boozer still consistently is able to use his footwork to create some space from the opposition. When he's able to move away from the opponent, he uses his quickness to get easy baskets around the rim, or step back to hit a mid-range jumper.

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Boozer's ability to score and cherry-pick rebounds may still exist, but his lackadaisical attitude on the other end of the floor cannot be ignored, especially since defensive willingness is one of the main focuses of new Lakers coach Byron Scott.

There is also the matter of other players who will compete for precious minutes. Ed Davis, a young and tenacious rim protector, was picked up this summer as a free agent. And then there's Julius Randle—the Lakers' much ballyhooed No. 7 draft pick who will be on a developmental fast track as the team's power forward of the future.

Boozer has loads of experience and could well be a starter at the beginning of the season. It would behoove an aging power forward, however, to do more than cling to remnants of the past. Acting as a willing mentor and accepting any and all roles thrust at him will impress management, his coaches and his teammates.

Among those teammates, none will be more key than Bryant—an athlete whose work ethic and competitive nature know no bounds. This is still the Mamba's team, and he, along with Scott, will demand maximum effort and culpability as the Lakes try to rise from the ashes of last season's horrific free fall.

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And then there's the rest of the league—general managers who will be keeping close tabs on Boozer's season with the Purple and Gold. Does he have anything left in the tank? How did he hold up under Bryant's intensity and Scott's defensive demands?

Did he make the team better or worse? Is he a teacher or a former star who doesn't fit in? Is he worth one more contract, and if so for how much?

But beyond what other teams may or may not be willing to toss Boozer's way in the years to come, there is an opportunity to earn a lasting place on the Lakers' roster and to endear himself to fans who for now are casting a wary eye his way.

In the best of worlds, this season offers a golden opportunity for Boozer to embrace the NBA's circle of life, rediscovering himself as a blue-collar cog in one of the league's most venerable franchises.

Or, he could be one-and-done and take his chances on the open market next summer. The decision is his to make.