Bulls general manager Gar Forman spoke with the media on Thursday and made it rather plain that PF Carlos Boozer still has supporters in the front office:
"I think Carlos had a very productive year," Forman said. "You look back, he’s the only guy on our team that played every game and practiced every day on a team that won more games than anybody in the NBA. He was our second leading scorer and our second leading rebounder. We’re looking forward to Carlos continuing to make progress. I know the last game clouds it a little bit, but he was very productive in the games before that. Even in that last game, in 27 minutes, he had 13 boards. I anticipate Carlos being with us and having another productive year next season.
"We’re happy Carlos Boozer is here and we like the core of the team that we have under contract."
Following his unimpressive Game 6 performance against the Philadelphia 76ers -- in which he shot 1 for 11 with 3 total points -- Boozer has been the topic of swirling rumors. Many believed the Bulls would consider using the amnesty clause on the 30-year-old forward in order to release him without his salary counting against the cap.
Boozer played in all 66 of the Bulls games in the 2011-12 NBA season, and had a career-high .187 win shares per 48 minutes according to Basketball-Reference.
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