Boozer: Bulls good to go
Carlos Boozer met with reporters on Wednesday at the Berto Center as the NBA crept closer to the expected opening of training camps.
Players were set to vote on ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement starting on Wednesday night. Approval figures to be a formality.
The Bulls are pursuing another offensive threat, preferably at shooting guard. But like Derrick Rose a few days ago, Boozer suggested the Bulls can stand pat and find a way to get past Miami in the playoffs.
“With the group that we had we were in every game and had chances to win those games,” Boozer told reporters. “Do I believe we can beat them with the group (we have)? Yeah, I do.
“(Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson) talked to us about it at the end of last season, all those wars they had with Detroit before they finally broke through and beat the Lakers (in 1991). That’s how you grow. You go through defeats and you learn from your mistakes and you become better and you let those mistakes motivate you.”
Boozer took some heat for posting just 5 points and 6 rebounds in the decisive Game 5 loss to Miami. But he also averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds during Games 3 and 4. After signing with the Bulls as a free agent last summer, Boozer missed most of training camp with a broken bone in his hand. Later in the season, he missed time on two occasions with a sprained ankle and played with a turf toe injury during the playoffs.
“This year I want to play better ‘D,’ be more efficient offensively, be a better leader, a better teammate and do whatever it takes for our team to win,” Boozer said.
“Some people take criticism the wrong way. I take it as motivation. Criticism motivates you. That’s the way I’ve been my whole career, and I’m very motivated, to say the least.”
The first official practice is expected to be held Friday, a week before the Bulls’ preseason opener at Indiana. In the meantime, the Bulls continue to work the phones trying to line up an offensive upgrade at shooting guard.
They haven’t moved on two players who visited the Berto Center earlier this week, Caron Butler and Josh Howard. Their first choice is likely Orlando guard Jason Richardson and the Bulls are trying to get him in for a visit. For now, they’ll also explore trades and wait to see if someone like Detroit’s Richard Hamilton is set free by the amnesty clause.
There were reports of some agreements made for minor deals — Tracy McGrady to Atlanta, Roger Mason Jr. to Washington and Jason Kapono to the Lakers. Transactions are expected to be official Friday afternoon.