Report: Bulls have no plans to amnesty Boozer this summer

When trade reports surfaced of a Carlos Boozer for Andrea Bargnani trade came up it didn’t make a lot of sense for me.

If you’re Chicago you could save $5 million a year for a couple years with Bargnani buried on your bench (you think Tom Thibodeau is going to play him much?) but why not just play out the season with Boozer then save a bunch more and use your amnesty clause on him this summer?

That’s not in the plans reports the Chicago Tribune.

Despite the talks, there are no plans to use the amnesty provision on Boozer this summer. Boozer is having a strong season, but shedding his salary could improve the Bulls’ long-term financial picture.

Why not? And why a Bargnani trade instead?

Because of real money out the door. If the Bulls amnesty Boozer they still have to pay him his salary (minus whatever he would sign for with another team). The Bulls are still on the hook for the contract, it just doesn’t count against the “official” books used for team salary against the cap and luxury tax. Fill in that cap space created by the Boozer amnesty and you’re paying those dollars twice, in essence. Trade for Bargnani and that is $5 million a year in real savings.

It’s all about the money — and in the Bulls case not paying the luxury tax. Despite the market size.