Chicago Bulls Left With Plan B in Carlos Boozer
Chris Bosh was like the popular girl in school — the cheerleading captain with dozens of eligible guys asking her to the prom. Always flirtatious and never dismissive, Bosh gives out a bunch of "definite maybes" and leaves the question open.
Dwyane Wade was the homecoming king, the guy who swoops in and sweeps Bosh off his feet. He's got himself a date.
Carlos Boozer was the backup plan.
So as soon as Bosh went with Wade off to Miami to form an all-Eastern Conference juggernaut with the Heat, the rest of his suitors turned their attention to Boozer.
Maybe the analogy's not perfect. But you get the picture — Boozer was a B-lister in NBA free agency, and he wasn't going to find a home this summer until after the marquee big men had already found homes.
So once Bosh headed to Miami and Amare Stoudemire booked his trip to the Big Apple, Boozer was able to find a home with the Chicago Bulls.
It's doubtful that this is what Boozer had in mind. He won't be part of a free-agent super group with Wade or Bosh and unless LeBron James surprises everyone Thursday night by announcing a move to Chicago, Boozer can expect to be the only big name heading to the Windy City. Boozer might make himself a very rich man, but he might not ever be an NBA champion.
This probably isn't what the Bulls expected, either. Wade, a Chicago native born and bred, won't be coming. Bosh, who hitched his wagon to Wade's, isn't on the way either. LeBron? We don't know for sure until the King goes on the air Thursday night on ESPN, but don't hold your breath.
Everyone got their Plan B in this scenario.
Boozer has long been about the money. He spurned his original team (ironically, LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers) back in 2004 when he allegedly made a handshake agreement to stay in Ohio before skipping town, becoming a free agent, and cashing in for $70 million in Utah. Six years later, he's once again opted to go where his bank account takes him.
Boozer wanted the cash, and after failing to land Bosh or D-Wade, the Bulls had plenty of it.
There's a good nucleus in place in Chicago. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah proved a lot by putting up a hell of a fight in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs the last two seasons. They've shown that they're young, they're talented, they're improving and most importantly that they get it. They're hungry to win titles.
With one of the top free agents by their side, they would have had a chance to do so. With Boozer? Who knows.
No people are coming out of this getting exactly what they want.
The Bulls are getting a two-time All-Star and a walking double-double machine. Boozer is getting a solid foundation of a team that's made the playoffs five of the last six years and will only get better.
But both sides in this transaction are left wondering if maybe they could have had something more.
