[July 18, 2014](The Sports Xchange) - Carlos Boozer
is trading places with Pau Gasol.
The Chicago Bulls used the amnesty clause with the power forward
after they signed former Los Angeles Lakers 7-footer Gasol, leaving
Boozer available to the highest bidder. The Los Angeles Lakers
swooped in and claimed him Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The amount of the Lakers' bid was not known.
The Lakers' bid amount will be subtracted from what the Bulls owe
Boozer for next season. Chicago will pay the remainder of his $16.8
million contract.
A 12-year veteran, Boozer averaged a career-low 13.6 points and 8.3
rebounds per game last season for the Bulls. His career averages are
16.6 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Ed Davis signed a two-year deal with the Lakers that includes a
player option for 2015-16.
Davis played for the Memphis Grizzlies last season and will replace
Chris Kaman on the roster in Los Angeles. Kaman signed with the
Portland Trail Blazers.
Kevin Love, the hottest NBA commodity available as free agency
options dwindle, remains with the Minnesota Timberwolves and owner
Glen Taylor hopes to keep the All-Star in the fold.
Love plans to test free agency if he plays out his current contract
with the Timberwolves, who have not made the playoffs in Love's six
seasons.
Many teams are targeting Love, including the Cleveland Cavaliers,
Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
Ray Allen continues to contemplate his future and possible
retirement as his 39th birthday approaches, but recently signed
Cavaliers guard Mike Miller is trying to tempt a fellow three-point
ace with a LeBron James reunion.
"We got James Jones, now we're moving Miami to northeast Ohio,"
Miller said.
Allen, who turns 39 on Sunday, is reportedly on the fence about
calling it quits after 18 NBA seasons.
Paul Pierce is officially headed to his third team in three years,
signing a contract Thursday with the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards did not disclose details of the deal, but The Washington
Post reported it is for two years and a full mid-level exception of
$10.8 million.
The 10-time NBA All-Star, 36, played in 75 games for the Nets last
season and averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
The Wizards hired David Adkins, a longtime high school basketball
assistant who once worked with Kevin Durant, as a player development
assistant, according to The Washington Post.
Adkins will fill the void on the staff created when Ryan Saunders
left to join his father, Flip, with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Toronto Raptors officially announced free-agent forward James
Johnson has re-signed. Financial terms of the two-year deal were not
disclosed, but the deal is reportedly worth $5 million. Guard
Greivis Vasquez also signed a two-year contract reportedly worth $13
million.
NBA legend Bill Russell was expected to return to his home in the
Seattle area on Thursday after collapsing during a speech in Lake
Tahoe, Nevada earlier in the day.
The 80-year-old Russell was removed on a stretcher from an event
after feeling faint but never lost consciousness and was taken to a
local hospital, according to information released by the Celtics.
Russell, a Hall of Fame center and popular speaker, was reported to
be feeling better after the scare and planned to fly out of Lake
Tahoe on Thursday evening.
Restricted free agent guard Eric Bledsoe is drawing interest from
multiple teams ready to sign the explosive two-way player as
negotiations with the Phoenix Suns deteriorate.
Bledsoe and the Suns are reportedly far apart in contract talks.
Forward Glen Davis signed a one-year, $1.23 million deal to return
to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Davis joined the Clippers last season in February after being
released by the Orlando Magic, reuniting with coach Doc Rivers, with
whom Davis worked as members of the Boston Celtics.
