While NBA awaits James' decision, Bulls secure one big name

The Bulls were hoping to have a free-agent commitment in hand before making their recruiting presentation to LeBron James last weekend in Cleveland.

That plan didn't pan out, but the Bulls do have someone who could sit down with the management team and watch James announce his decision tonight on ESPN.

The Bulls agreed to terms with Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer on a five-year deal worth an estimated $75 million to $80 million. The move came a few hours after two other free-agent targets - Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh - announced they would play together in Miami.

The 6-foot-9 Boozer is one of the league's most reliable low-post scorers. He averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and shot 56 percent last season.

Even more impressive is his playoff production of 20.3 points and 12.5 rebounds in 44 games. Boozer, 28, helped lead the Jazz to the Western Conference finals in 2007. He's had some injuries but has essentially stayed healthy in five of eight seasons.

Will he help lure James to the Bulls?

Well, Boozer and James were Cleveland teammates in 2003-04, James' rookie season, and remained friends. This move also gives James the opportunity to join a talented lineup that already includes Boozer, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Taj Gibson.

James and his associates have done a nice job of closing ranks and building suspense for Thursday's announcement. Thanks to some well-placed news leaks, they've been able to create the impression that the Bulls, Cavaliers, Heat, Knicks and Nets are all still in the running. So let's look again at the possibilities:

Option 1: Stay in Cleveland for the long haul - Word is the biggest factor holding James back is his loyalty to the Akron/Cleveland area, where he's lived his entire life. He doesn't want to disappoint his hometown fans.

Then again, he doesn't want to sit at home next June and watch Kobe Bryant win title No. 6, then maybe No. 7 after that, while he's stuck on zero.

After three straight early exits from the playoffs, James has reason to be skeptical of the Cavaliers' promise that one more tweak of the supporting cast will put the team over the top. What will the Cavs do on the inside with Shaquille O'Neal unlikely to return and Zydrunas Ilgauskas fading fast?

The Cavs may never be able to pair James with the competent sidekick he likely needs to win a championship. Don't forget, Bryant won his titles with the help of Pau Gasol and a younger O'Neal. In between, he couldn't get out of the first round.

Option 2: Re-sign with the Cavaliers for three years - This way, he'd give Ohio an even 10 years of his services and could leave with less guilt.

This is a risky move because he doesn't know what kind of free-agent options he'd have in 2013. There may not be better opportunities than he's getting this year. If he doesn't think the Cavs have a realistic chance to win a title with the current group, why stick around for three more years of disappointment?

Option 3: Join Wade and Bosh in Miami - There is a growing belief that this could actually happen, but it's tough to see James essentially moving into Wade's house. That would be awkward. Plus, it's nearly impossible for all three players to get six-year maximum deals.

Option 4: Sign with New York or New Jersey - Both teams present decent options for James. The Knicks already signed ex-Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire and would have money to chase a major free agent next year when Eddy Curry's contract comes off the books. Missing the playoffs eight of the last nine years doesn't speak well for the organization, though.

New Jersey has an intriguing new owner in Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian who vowed to help James expand his international portfolio. James' good friend Jay-Z is a part-owner. But the Nets will spend the next two seasons, maybe more, in Newark before the long-planned move to Brooklyn. There is also no ignoring the fact that New Jersey went 12-70 last season.

Option 5: Sign with the Bulls - When free agency began last week, the Bulls seemed to have more to offer than any other team with cap room. They have a playoff-caliber lineup in place, led by Rose and Boozer, not to mention a desirable location.

If James goes somewhere else, the Bulls will have to scramble to fill their vacancy at shooting guard. They've already ticketed Kirk Hinrich to Washington for more cap space. Atlanta's Joe Johnson would have been the next-best target, but he's unavailable after the Hawks surprisingly offered a full maximum deal worth nearly $120 million over six years. As it stands, there is no obvious backup plan.

The NBA announced Wednesday next year's salary cap will be $58.044 million, about $2 million higher than expected. So the Bulls will have about $31 million to spend on Boozer and other free agents.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=392653"><b>MCGRAW:</b> Critics of LeBron's TV show missing big picture<span class="date"> [7/8/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=392648"><b>ROZNER:</b> Bulls leave light on for LeBron<span class="date"> [7/8/10]</span></a></li>

<li><a href="/story/?id=392504">Wade to Chicago fans: Bosh is the reason I chose Heat <span class="date">[07/07/10]</span></a></li>

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