Why Los Angeles Lakers Should Bring Back Carlos Boozer Next Season

Carlos Boozer has been a mildly pleasant surprise since being assigned a bench role by the Los Angeles Lakers. Management will have a decision to make at the end of the season: whether or not to sign the free agent to a new contract.

The 33-year-old was picked up off amnesty waivers from the Chicago Bulls in July and arrived in Los Angeles as a player who had already become a crackling lightning rod of controversy.

With his star on the wane, Boozer had grown disenchanted with a lack of minutes in fourth-quarter situations, saying per Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com: “It's very frustrating, especially when I've got a great game going or what have you. Obviously as a competitor, you want to be out there to help your team win and especially when the game is close.”

When Boozer first came to Chicago, he was the man on a 5-year, $80 million deal. But over time, his role diminished, with young players like Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah rising to prominence.

The frontcourt veteran was also taking up cap space with a $16.8 million tab for the final year on his contract. By using the one-time amnesty clause, the Bulls were still on the hook for Boozer’s salary but were able to alleviate his cap number, giving the team room to sign former Lakers big man Pau Gasol. 

Just days later, L.A put in a $3.25 million blind bid and wound up winning the prize, plugging the hole left by Gasol with an inexpensive stopgap alternative.

The new arrival was not initially judged by his bargain basement cost but by the perception of a fading talent joining a team building for a brighter future. Would an old pro be a mentor for the Lakers’ No. 7 draft pick, Julius Randle, or would he block the rookie’s path?

As it turned out, Randle went out for the season with a broken leg during his debut game, something the team obviously couldn’t have predicted.

The season got underway with Boozer’s production as a starter plummeting in his first 19 games—from a career average of 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds to 12.4 points and 6.6 boards per game.

And with that, Lakers coach Byron Scott pulled the plug, moving the perennial starter to the second unit. As might be expected, Boozer wasn’t thrilled with the news.

“I'm sure Byron's trying to figure out a way for us to win games,” said Boozer (per Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times). “That’s just his opinion.  I have a different opinion.  I'll keep it to myself.”

That was pretty much the extent of any perceived dustup. Rather than causing acrimony and locker room tension, the 13-year-forward has delivered a more consistent and efficient effort with 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game off the bench in reduced minutes.

When the Bulls came to town Thursday, Boozer played 28 minutes in a double-overtime win against his former team, collecting 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two assists. He also played substantial minutes in the fourth quarter as well as the second overtime period.

Why Lakers Should Bring Back Boozer 

The case for bringing Boozer back is straightforward, and it first hinges on him accepting a salary that is not significantly higher than what the Lakers are currently paying him. It would also require his willingness to continue with a supporting role.

It is highly unlikely that Los Angeles will advance into the postseason this year, and that will be another first for Boozer, who has been to the playoffs for each of the last eight seasons. He also helped Team USA win Olympic gold in 2008 and won an NCAA title with Duke in 2001.

The breadth of his resume is worth something for a team largely made up of young players—the lack of poise and experience has been evident in a number of games that have been lost this season late in the fourth quarter.

And while Boozer may not be a defensive dynamo, he’ll still play hard and mix it up, as evidenced during a skirmish with the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert earlier this season. As noted by ProBasketballTalk’s Kurt Helin, “Carlos Boozer likes to do the little things that can get under an opponent’s skin. Like shove them to the ground, occasionally.”

He may be getting long in the tooth, but the 6’9”, 258-pound journeyman can still use his body to create space in the lane, has a knack for easy rebounds and knows how to get his buckets—either creating for himself or cleaning up under the rim.

He also communicates very, very loudly on the court. Sometimes, that can be a good thing.

Why Lakers Should Not Bring Back Boozer

But there is also a pretty solid case for why not to bring Boozer back. It starts with the lack of logic that a team, which ranks second-to-last in defense, would trust a guy who is so lax on that end of the floor.

In the words of Kelly Dwyer for Ball Don’t Lie:

"

The forward is one of the worst defenders in the league—constantly refusing to rotate, always sidestepping penetrators at the rim as if it were his signature move…the Lakers knew what they were getting into when they claimed Boozer off of the amnesty waiver pile last summer. The guy hasn’t played defense for years, and he’s not going to change his stripes some 13 years into his career.

"

There’s also the matter of a player past his prime taking up space in a frontcourt crowded with young prospects.

Randle will be back with something to prove next season. The Lakers also recently signed Tarik Black—an undrafted rookie with a high basketball IQ and a junkyard dog mentality in the paint. There is also Ed Davis, who is a far superior rim protector than Boozer ever was, and Ryan Kelly, who can play both forward spots and has the ability to stretch the floor.

And then there’s Jordan Hill, who has played well since shifting back to power forward from center, including 26 points and 12 rebounds Thursday against the Bulls. The Lakers have a $9 million team option on Hill for next season, and it’s anybody’s guess as to what’s going to happen with that.

The Lakers will certainly pursue outside talent when the summer finally rolls along, lining up with other hungry buyers who want a shot at free-agent big men like Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol and Greg Monroe.

But despite all this, it’s hard to ignore the subtle surprise of Carlos Boozer, an amnesty waiver pickup who accepted a reduced role, has supported his teammates and added a scoring punch off the bench.

He’ll never be a star again, and his all-around game is far from perfect. But Boozer provides veteran leadership and knows the tricks of his low-post trade.

And in the end, the old hand from Juneau, Alaska, may find that Los Angeles suits his sunset chapter.