Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Will Carlos Boozer bounce back?

After the Chicago Bulls used the amnesty clause to waiver veteran power forward Carlos Boozer, the Los Angeles Lakers won the waiver claim and acquired Boozer. That’s an important get for the Lakers because they actually lost Pau Gasol to the Bulls.

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Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders wonders if Boozer can turn it around in Los Angeles.

"It is never a good sign when a team is willing to pay you $16 million to essentially go away, but that’s exactly what Chicago did with Boozer by using their amnesty provision. Boozer was eventually claimed off the amnesty wire by the Los Angeles Lakers and is in a strong position to play heavy minutes this season. Whether he can pull off a bounce back campaign, resembling yesteryear, at 32 years old is questionable but he’ll get every opportunity with the Lakers – who are at their own respective crossroads as a franchise."

Even if Boozer does turn things around, the Lakers will be a long shot to make the playoffs. If he doesn’t, he will likely, he will almost certainly lose playing time to rookie Julius Randle, the seventh-overall pick of June’ draft.

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. In his 12-year career, the 35th-overall pick of the second round of the 2002 Draft has put up 16.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 52.3% from the floor and 72.7% from the charity strip. He has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz and Bulls.

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