FanPost

Trading for Boozer and the 16th pick; poll included

The Suns will perhaps not be involved in many headline-leading trades and signings this year, but there are still plenty of benefecial trade opportunities to be seized for the Suns. One such might involve the Bulls.

There are many rumours that the Bulls are seriously considering using the amnesty clause on Boozer and his expiring, 16.8m$ contract, in order to make cap room to sign Melo (http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/05/26/chicago-bulls-rumors-amnesty-is-inevitable-for-carlos-boozer/). There are also reports that in the case of a trade for Love, Boozer would not be involved (http://fansided.com/2014/05/23/chicago-bulls-unlikely-use-carlos-boozer-kevin-love-trade/#!XnHde).

Considering this and considering the reputation of Bulls' owner as a frugal one, they would probably be more interested in trading him somewhere without taking back any salary. In order to do that, they would have to include some other asset as an incentive for the other team. While they might be reluctant do include rights to Mirotic, considering how long they have waited for him, they might be more inclined to part either with their 16th or their 19th pick in the 2014 draft.

The Suns have plenty of cap space and could make a trade with the Bulls, absorbing Boozer's contract without sending any salary back. In addition to that, the Suns could demand the 16th pick.

The Bulls would probably rather trade away Boozer (and preferably to a Western conference team) than pay him 16.8m$, and they would probably deem the 16th pick as a reasonable price to get rid of Boozer's contract and a chance at landing Melo. It would also preserve their amnesty clause option for potential use on some other player.

The Suns would put their cap space to good use, and given the lack of quality and reasonable other options this year, this might be one of the best. We would get a mid-first round pick, which could be used in combination with other assets to move up the draft ladder, draft a player to either use or stash. We would also get one year of Boozer, who would probably be a good part of the 2nd unit, or we could try to trade him mid-season when teams would be more interested in him, given that they would have to pay "only" around 6m$ for a 16.8m$ expiring contract. In any case, he would come off the books next summer, and the Suns would be able to clear a lot of cap-space next summer to sign at least one big FA.

One of the questions to be discused: Is getting the 16th pick and Boozer worth picking up his contract and using most of our cap-space on him? Thanks for your thoughts.