HoopsHype.com Rumors

KC Johnson: Thibodeau, while acknowledging others, stumping for Boozer as All-Star replacement if one is needed. #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, All-Star 

Chicago Bulls' Carlos Boozer and Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant were named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Jan. 14 through Sunday, Jan. 20. Boozer led the Bulls to a 3-1 week, which included wins over the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors. He averaged 23.0 points (fourth in the conference) and a league-leading 14.8 rebounds. Boozer recorded a point-rebound double-double in all four contests, including a 19-point, 20-rebound game on Jan. 18 during a 100-99 win over the Boston Celtics. USA Today Sports

Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Carlos Boozer 

So if there is a team that might like Boozer you assume it could be the Nets. Though I have not heard of any interest on their part or any discussions. I could see the Bulls doing so to get off that last year of Boozer’s deal. Yes, I know the Nets’ owner supposedly doesn’t worry about money. But that is maybe the biggest luxury tax penalty in NBA history were they to add Boozer’s salary. NBA.com

Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Carlos Boozer, Coaching 

Like he has since the 2009-10 playoffs, Joakim Noah will hear the boos from the Cleveland faithful Friday night after he ripped the city during that playoff loss to the Cavs. “What’s so good about Cleveland?” Noah said back then. When pressed further by the media, Noah said, “You like it? You think Cleveland is cool? I’ve never heard anyone say, ‘I’m going to Cleveland on vacation.’ ’’ Boozer and Noah can insist that they’ve moved on all they want, but Cleveland hasn’t. “That story is over,’’ Boozer said, “ask me another question.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah 

John Hollinger: Thought it was a good deal for Chicago. Remember Gibson is very old for a fourth-year player so there's no real upside to factor in, unlike with the other guys. That said, Gibson is such a beast on defense - he's just waaaaaay more valuable at that end than the rest of the extension crew. Additionally, the $ are just low enough that it might take a Boozer amnesty out of play. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson 

Carlos Boozer and Richard Hamilton don't care about the Bulls' grand plan to make the NBA Finals in 2014-15, because both will be long gone. But they represent solid bridge players intent on proving they're not getting older but better. "You definitely use it as motivation,'' Boozer said of age assumptions. Boozer lost 10 pounds and has looked more active than in past preseasons. Expect Boozer, 31 next month, to treat this as a contract year as threats of the Bulls exercising their amnesty option on him loom. Hamilton, 34, committed the summer to making his body stronger and more flexible. He won't have to deal with the compressed schedule of last season and returns, if healthy, as the Bulls' most viable option to take big shots. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Richard Hamilton 

Is the hate for Boozer solely rooted in expectations? Or is it so connected to his contract (five years, $75 million) that it is impossible to separate the two? The other hidden mathematic equation that can be applied to making a case for Boozer is what happens when he plays 70 or more games in a given season. In the last eight seasons, Boozer has played over 70 games only three times. It can't be a coincidence that those three seasons (2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10) were the best of his career, highlighted by him grabbing over 200 rebounds and scoring 400 points in 17 games (23.5 ppg/ 12.2rpg) during the 2006-07 Utah playoff run that basically had people calling him "the Karl Malone Remix." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Carlos Boozer, Karl Malone 

But it’s the value the players put on Thibodeau that matters most. And that’s a test Thibodeau is passing with flying colors. ‘‘I get to the gym about two hours before practice, and his car is already in the lot and the light is on in his office,’’ forward Carlos Boozer said of Thibodeau. ‘‘He’s very strategic, and everything he does is calculated. He puts a lot of thought into his practice plans, a lot of thought into his game plan, and he’s been successful that way. One of the reasons we trust him is he puts the time in. When you have a guy that puts as much time in as Thibs, you should trust it.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Tom Thibodeau, Coaching 

‘‘We’ve seen our success through his system, through his practice schedule, through his days off, through his regimen,’’ Boozer said. ‘‘And we’ve had success the last two years, so we trust it because we’ve reaped the benefits of that success. ‘‘We tell the new guys that are coming in as rookies or the vets that have been around — some of them are coming from losing programs, to be quite frank; this is their first time to be on a winning team — we just tell them, ‘Keep working and be focused. It will help in the long run.’ ‘‘The thing that Tom talked to us about almost every training camp is begin with the end in mind. Our end goal is to put a banner up, so the work we do now will benefit if we put everything into it.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Tom Thibodeau, Coaching 

Shams Charania: Funny Fesenko story: On media day, he called Carlos Boozer, "Goozer." Gave him a break but knowing him, the "G" might have been on purpose. Twitter @ShamsCharania

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Kyrylo Fesenko 

Next to Derrick Rose, there's no Bull valued more by the organization than Gibson. Which is why many rival teams expect the Bulls to have Gibson signed to a new deal by month's end, even though Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is seemingly never in a rush to do extensions. The high dollars and luxury-tax implications are such in James Harden's case that it wouldn't totally shock the world if the parties reach November without a deal ... but no deal in Gibson's case would expose the Bulls to the same conditions that made it possible for Houston to pilfer Omer Asik in restricted free agency this past July. Which is something Chicago really can't afford. Extending Gibson now and cutting ties with Carlos Boozer later via the amnesty clause, sources say, is still the most likely outcome here. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson 

Add in that Boozer will be the 24th highest-paid player in the Association at $15 million, and is owed $15.3 million next season and $16.8 million in the 2014-15, and it’s no wonder that the chant of “Boooooooze’’ from the hometown fans has far too often turned to boos. “People look at it from the wrong perspective,’’ Boozer said. “This isn’t Utah, and this isn’t just a team with me and [former Jazz point guard] Deron Williams on it. We’re playing with five scorers here, so your touches aren’t going to be the same, your looks aren’t going to be the same. It’s a different system. “All the people should worry about is if we win. Criticize me if we lose, but if we win, just praise us.’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer 

A physical player with surprising athleticism for his size, "Fes" developed into a fan favorite despite receiving limited playing time during his stint in Utah, where he played four seasons before signing with Indiana in the middle of last season's lockout-shortened schedule. "He’s a little bit more mature—a little bit. Still very athletic. Great locker-room guy, great sense of humor. Huge body—he’s 7-2, 7-3, very wide—but moves well with his weight. He can help us," said Carlos Boozer about his former Jazz teammate, who still doesn't have a driver's license. "No! I asked him that, too. He’s a little older now. when we drafted him, he was a little younger. I think he still has a driver. He said, ‘I think it’s time for me to get my license.’ I said, ‘Yeah, it might be.’" CSN Chicago

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Kyrylo Fesenko 

Kyrylo Fesenko: Just landed in Chicago. Tomorrow I have a workout with the Bulls. Really excited to see Korver, Boozer and Brewer! Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Free Agency, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Kyrylo Fesenko, Ronnie Brewer 

Kyrylo Fesenko: My bad, people. I didn't know, that Kyle and Ronnie is gone from Chicago. Thank you for info. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Free Agency, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Kyrylo Fesenko, Ronnie Brewer 

The album Full Court Press Vol. 1 (which, oh boy, hopefully means there will be a Vol. 2) will featured 14 NBA stars, or "stars" rather. Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer, among others, also appear. On the tracks they'll be paired with rappers like Snoop Dogg, The Game, Twista and T-Pain. "I started having fun with it," Howard told WTVJ about his rap experience. "I was like, you know what? I've done this before at home in the shower, but now it's real in the studio, but I started getting into the beat. I have a little rhythm." Miami New Times

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic, Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom, Baron Davis, Glen Davis, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg 

The rap album is titled, "Full Court Press Vol. 1." NBA players that will be featured include Juwan Howard, Baron Davis, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, Carlos Boozer, Glen Davis, Shawn Marion, Josh Smith and others. Rappers expected to be on tracks include Rick Ross, Trina, Snoop Dogg, Birdman, The Game, T-Pain, Bun B, Twista and Soulja Boy. IamaGM.com

Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom, Josh Smith, Shawn Marion, Trevor Ariza, Juwan Howard, Baron Davis, Glen Davis, Snoop Dogg 

Bulls’ sources maintained all summer that using their amnesty cut on Boozer has never been a real consideration. But as the value of his deal gets smaller, the odds that the Bulls will have to make the hard decision, becomes more and more real. HoopsWorld

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer 

Management will say its financial decisions are cloaked in basketball reasons. With Rose out until likely March, next season is a treading-water season. So instead of depth being the secondary star, the Bulls hope to add a legitimate one alongside Rose. With Hinrich, Belinelli, Radmanovic and Mohammed all signing short-term deals, the plan to clear major salary-cap space in 2014 will remain intact. That's also when Luol Deng's contract expires, Nikola Mirotic could come over from Real Madrid and Carlos Boozer likely will be a victim of the amnesty provision. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Real Madrid, Nazr Mohammed, Marco Belinelli, Vladimir Radmanovic, Nikola Mirotic 

Bulls general manager Gar Forman consistently has stated re-signing Asik is a priority. Whether a back-loaded contract that climbs to $14.1 million and possibly slightly higher in Year 3 changes that is unknown. Derrick Rose is scheduled to make $17.8 million and Carlos Boozer $16.8 million in 2014-15 when Asik's deal jumps, although the Bulls almost certainly will use the amnesty provision on Boozer. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, Omer Asik