NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls won’t amnesty Carlos Boozer?

Now that New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony has opted out of his contract, he will become an unrestricted free agent when free agency officially begins on Tuesday.

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Although the Knicks have recently expressed confidence in re-signing Anthony, many consider the Chicago Bulls to be the favorite. To do so, they must get rid of Carlos Boozer either via a trade or via the amnesty clause.

However, according to Mitch Lawrence of The New York Daily News, Bulls’ owner Jerry Reinsdorg may not allow the Bulls to use the amnesty clause to waive Boozer.

"It must make Anthony crazy, what with Phil Jackson calling him out again in public to take a pay cut to return to the Knicks. And then Melo’s top suitors, starting one minute after midnight Monday night, still trying to find ways to come up with the kind of cash that will make Anthony want to uproot his family and move away from the NBA’s No. 1 stage.The Bulls have not given any indication that they’re going to create the cap space for Anthony by using their one-time amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer. Inside the team’s executive offices, there was a genuine fear as of Friday that owner Jerry Reinsdorf won’t give his go-ahead to have Boozer’s $16.8 million lopped off the books. He’s as opposed to paying a player to walk away as he is to forking over even a dime in luxury tax."

Boozer, 32, averaged 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field and 76.7% from the free throw line last season.