Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 11:50 am  |  71 responses

Bulls, Raptors Discussed Trade Involving Andrea Bargnani and Carlos Boozer


by Marcel Mutoni / @ marcel_mutoni

According to multiple published reports, Chicago and Toronto have talked about swapping Carlos Boozer and Andrea Bargnani.

The talks haven’t advanced past the exploratory stage, per the reports, but if a trade were to happen, it would likely involve multiple players.

Per the Chicago Tribune:

The Bulls and Raptors engaged in trade talks centered on Carlos Boozer and Andrea Bargnani over a week ago, according to two league sources. [...] A source says they were initiated by the Bulls and initially dismissed because of the Raptors’ desire to land the Lakers’ Pau Gasol. Though talks are not currently active, a source said the Raptors know the trade is available and could expand to include Nate Robinson and John Lucas III. Another source suggested it’s unlikely the Raptors would take on Boozer’s contract, which has $9.1 million more than Bargnani’s over the next two seasons.

Boozer makes $5 million more than Bargnani this season. Coach Tom Thibodeau long has been an advocate of Lucas III, who is playing sparingly for the Raptors. Despite the talks, there are no plans to use the amnesty provision on Boozer this summer. Boozer is having a strong season, but shedding his salary could improve the Bulls’ long-term financial picture.

In addition to helping out their bottom line, the Bulls reportedly covet Bargnani due to his outside shooting ability. On the Toronto end of things, there are serious questions about the Raptors being able to take on any more large salaries.

Andrea Bargnani seems to have worn out his welcome in Toronto, and the Raptors haven’t exactly made it a secret that they’re shopping him. Carlos Boozer, meanwhile, called the rumors “interesting”.

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  • spit hot fiyah

    mutoni, u keep pressing enter after having written a few sentences. i don’t understand

  • Enigmatic

    I dislike Boozer’s huge contract, lackadaisical defense and his habit of shrinking when he’s needed most in the playoffs as much as any Bulls fan, but trading him for a 7 footer who averages 4.3 rebounds per and shoots 40% from the field? Ehhh….I dunno…even if he is about 5 mil a year cheaper.

    As for Bargnani’s “outside shooting ability”, he’s shooting 30% from 3. Five current Bulls are shooting better than that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    If Bulls fans think they hate Boozer….just wait till they get Bargnani

  • Max

    That would be a dumbass move.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    you can’t judge Bargani’s ability on this season. He has played 22 mins and been 100% for maybe none of them. He’s consistently been a great shooter throughout his career, and who knows, maybe a new situation is exactly what he needs.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    Obviously Boozer is better, and has been playing great, but people don’t understand that he has been working down on the block like he did in Utah. Once Rose comes back, Boozer will be back to clearing the lane for him, and chucking up this half open mid range jumpers. If The Bulls defense can hide Boozer’s deficiencies it can hide Bargani’s. And maybe this trade would allow Taj to fully emerge who knows. Plus they will be able to improve their bench that much more without Boozer’s contract. They should make this trade.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Bryan Colangelo is the worst. I would hate to be forced into watching and hearing about Toronto on a nightly basis.

  • http://twitter.com/niQknacks niQ

    It’s okay. Still better than no paragraphing at all.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    no, Bargnani makes Boozer look like Dikembe Mutombo. – if they really want to win in the next 2 years they would be better off just waiting and amnestying Boozer then making this deal.

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    Bargnani has a career fg% of 43% and 36% from 3. Healthy or not, he is a streaky shooter with questionable shot selection at best and always has been.

    He’s a good shooter for a seven footer, but more importantly a putrid defender and rebounder for his size.

  • http://twitter.com/niQknacks niQ

    Meh. Not sure how I feel about this. But from what I hear the Raptors are leaving it on the table to see what other offers come up.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000166716900 Anthony Darnello Taylor Jr.

    Why do people want this guy so much i just dont understand. To me all I see is a wanna be dirk who really inst that good at doing so. He is a great decoy shooter like Okur was bu thats it.

  • Redd

    But I’d rather have that better contract.

  • Redd

    He’s actually not bad at D, he can play it, I’ve seen it but he doesn’t consistently..at all.

  • Redd

    I think if he puts in Ross in with Biryani, I’d take that trade.

  • AndyK415

    Can’t say I’ve ever actually seen Bargnani play (the Raptors are never on T.V. and no one cares when they come play your local team) but based on all the hate people say about the guy on this site I think it would be a bad move for the Bulls.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Bargnani? is the worst defensive big in the whole NBA. And it really isn’t even close.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    If Colangelo includes Ross. If he does this trade at all. Actually, he should have been fired already. But he should get double and triple fired if this happens especially if it includes Terrence Ross.
    .
    Chicago should not do this if they really feel like they can win anytime soon.

  • Guest

    Lol @ Biryani. Love it.

  • Redd

    Well we’re being killed lately by teams with better or more depth at the 4 & 5.

    What we really need is a true center behind Noah.

  • Redd

    Biryani’s best year at blocking, he had 111 which at the same time McGee had 132. Biryani isn’t a defensive beast I’m not saying but he’s better than Boozer.

    He’s a young 7 footer, I’ve seen times when he’s played decent D but it’s pretty rarely. He can play it I think & he’s young. Thibs made Korver play D decently & Boozer got better too.

    Thing is..does Thibs want to or can he work on Biryani’s D in the middle of the season? That’s the thing.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    Andrea Bargnani is not a Center. By any stretch of any imagination. He’s a big giant slow Small Forward. Who has to play PF to be even a little big effective.

  • Max

    Blocks don’t make you a good defender, ask Amaré.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    He’s not better than Boozer. 2 years ago he literally had the WORST DEFENSIVE SEASON OF ANY PLAYER EVER. Blocks mean nothing when every possession you aren’t blocking a shot you are giving up a wide open shot/layup/easy rebound. He’s a HORRIBLE defender.

    .

    To put this in perspective,

    .
    in 2010-11

    - Andrea Bargnani was giving up 1.16 points per possession.
    - Amar’e Stoudemire was giving up 1.12 points per possession.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    okay yes he is a garbage defender. Luckily you don’t have to actually be a good defender to make Thibs’ system work you just have to buy into the system and be able to rotate. Not saying for sure that he would be able to do that, but we would be a better team offensively.

  • Redd

    Doesn’t change that Biryani is younger & has much more of a chance to learn D with a coach who is incredible at teaching it.

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    He definitely has the tools to be and average defensive player, he just doesn’t want it. Which is even worse.

    We’re talking about a guy who responded to a reporter inquiring about his low rebounding numbers with “We play basketball, not rebound-ball”.

  • Redd

    No I know, he’s clearly not a true Center, never said he was.

    We need to trade for Mozgov or Dalembert, preferably Dalembert.

  • RKJ92

    nbk isn’t even exaggerating either.. Bargnani is legitimately THAT bad

  • Da-Meat-Hook

    Thank you!

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    You would still be paying over $10 million dollars a year for a guy who can’t play Center and is the worst defensive player in the League who you are HOPING learns defense before his contract expires.
    .
    Being optimistic about Andrea Bargnani figuring out defense would be foolish. To be polite.

  • RKJ92

    No Redd just stop.. lol I watch every Raptors game Bargnani is TERRIBLE at defense and he’s not gonna learn it this late in his career, like there is literally no argument for this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Junior-Taylor/100003121138419 Junior Taylor

    If Bulls fans thought they hated Boozer’s guts wait until they watch Bargnani play. One of the worst defenders and rebounders the big man position has ever seen (yes, he is that bad)

  • KevinJohnsonFan

    The only team in D-Rose and the Bulls way when they’re healthy is Miami. Is Bargnani going to be a better fit with Rose than Boozer is? Doubt it. Carlos has been playing well this season. If he continues to be close to the 20-10 guy he was in Utah, the Bulls have a legit one-two combo. Dumb move to make.

  • LeroyShonuff

    Bargnani is awful. And Boozer is annoying but I will say Boozer has been balling this season. We should of traded Boozer and Omar last year for Gasol. The Lakers would of accepted that trade. Or trade Boozer for Al Jefferson. Matter of fact we should of never signed boozer anyway and just got Al Jefferson from minny when they practically gave him away. But this trade is pure asinine. Atleast hit Atlanta up for Josh Smith. That more logical.

  • LeroyShonuff

    no he is bloody awful… Worst defensive player in the NBA…

  • LeroyShonuff

    No he is not garbage, he is something far worse. Think 3month old frat party vomit in the bushes on a hot day surrounded dirty diapers and old tampons. Bargnani is just lucky to be 7ft. Boozer is a much, much better player who is always in position in Thibbs system and he atleast plays hard. And I hate Boozer

  • LeroyShonuff

    He makes Billy King look like Jerry West…

  • Redd

    No you’re right that he can’t play center, even I can see that. The plan however is(from a Bulls perspective) that he can plat 20 a game off the bench at PF & provide good spacing. Again, I believe Thibs can work magic potentially to get his D to be decent enough that he can stop smaller guys.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    So you want to pay him 11 million dollars a year to play 20 minutes? Why? How does that help the Bulls improve enough to make the trade worth it, if at all?

  • Redd

    Really? I mean I’ve seen him at times actually protect the paint & I saw him destroy Miami.

    Guess I’ll take it from a Raptor fan, I don’t watch him much so I assume I’m incorrect in my hopefulness.

  • Redd

    Still gives us room to sign at least 1 other decent option likely off the bench & with more minutes & we avoid the tax.

    Again, I’m looking at it from a financial standpoint, Biryani is streaky but Boozer will actually do something night in & night out & likely won’t shoot you out of a game. We already have Robinson..another guy like him & we’ll being losing as much as we win. I like Boozer more but he’s not worth that idiotic contract.

    I’d much rather see him being moved for a true Center. Matter fact, a Boozer-Biryani trade(without Ross) is pretty dumb from a stat perspective imo.

  • RKJ92

    Bargnani is just disgustingly slow on rotations, and help defense, if he has a wide open lane he will settle for a jumpshot, his one on one defense is often non-existant when most players blow by him faster then you can say zoom zoom, I mean really any blocks I see him get are like pity blocks or like little slaps that usually go back into the offensive players hands again, I mean like I wish blocks made you good defensively but what it really comes down to is footspeed and effort which he has 0 that much of lol

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    trading Boozer for Bargnani, with Taj’s new contract, would net you exactly $0.00 more dollars then you had previously.

  • Redd

    Oh yeah Taj’s contract kicks in next year, forgot about that. Yeah checkmate on me again nbk..I hate you.

    But yet again, I want us to get Mozgov or Dalembert.

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    lol

  • The Philosopher

    It is as such;
    Bargs is younger. Still has potential. Needs a little coaching.
    Boozer is older. Having a decent campaign. But we have to wonder how many decent campaigns are left in him.
    If Chicago can light a fire under Bargnani, he could really help them. Sure, it would be a gamble. But betting on Boozer to maintain his level of production into his advancing age is also high risk.
    Bargnani has more potential for a higher reward.
    The move makes sense, in my opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Gilbert/100001749589586 Mike Gilbert

    same…but then Ill never be able to see Nazzy play and I kinda enjoy it lol

  • RipCity

    for real slam needs to learn how to properly space their articles…

  • retloc

    You never know though, some players just really need a change of scenery. Maybe thibs is just what bargnani needs. On another note, nice to see an enigmatic comment again, down to about one a year now huh.

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