The 2014-15 NBA season is over and it’s time for the rumor mill to start rolling and the free agency news to start piling up. There are some big names guys who can switch sides this summer if they’d like. Whether it be Kevin Love leaving the Cavs, one of the starting Hawks forwards leaving Atlanta or even if LaMarcus Aldridge lands in Texas, big men seem to be the most sought after this summer.
One of the big men that might not be as highly coveted is veteran Carlos Boozer, fresh off his lone season with the Los Angeles Lakers. While the season for LA wasn’t a huge success for both parties, Boozers does still have some value in small stretches.
In the right scenario, Boozer can be important to a rotation but he has digressed from his All-Star days with the Utah Jazz. Boozer now has the choice to go anywhere this summer and it appears he might leave the comfort of Los Angeles to take his talents to South Beach.
Following from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
As associate of veteran power forward Carlos Boozer said Boozer wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with the Heat next season (almost assuredly at the minimum).
Boozer, who spends a lot of time in Miami, can still play as a backup (11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 49.9 percent from the field for the Lakers), but signing him makes sense only if Josh McRoberts or (less likely) Udonis Haslem is dealt.
Like Jackson stated, Boozer going to Miami would only work if another forward was moved off the roster. While he won’t be expected to carry a big load, you still would want to bring him in to play some important minutes whenever Chris Bosh or even Hassan Whiteside hit the bench. He can do some things but he won’t set the world on fire.
If he does join this Miami Heat roster, next season just gets more formidable with Bosh, Whiteside leading the frontline joined by Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and Luol Deng. Not to mention the solid bench of Mario Chalmers, Shabazz Napier, James Ennis, Tyler Johnson, their number 10 pick and either McRoberts or Haslem. This team could have made some noise this season if they were healthy and next year, with the young guys getting a season of experience under their belt it can only get better. Led by D.Wade and Bosh, there might be a new challenger for the Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference Championship.
