To Chicago: Kyle Lowry, Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough
To Toronto: Carlos Boozer, Chicago's 2014 pick, Charlotte's 2014 pick (protected)
WHY CHICAGO DOES THIS: They want to get rid of Boozer's contract so badly they were trying to trade him for Andrea Bargnani earlier this year. Amir + Kyle + Tyler is much, much better for them than Bargs is: Amir replaces Boozer's functionality in Chicago's frontcourt, Tyler is a capable backup big, Lowry is the replacement Derrick Rose until Rose comes back. Chicago turns Boozer's nearly $17M salary next year into Kyle's nothing, Amir's 7 (only 5 guaranteed) and Tyler's 3 (only 1 guaranteed). For a team looking to replace Boozer with Nikola Mirotic and then sign a big free agent, this is a pretty sweet deal.
WHY TORONTO DOES THIS: Two first-round picks. Boozer's salary is meaningless to us next year since Masai is building for 2016 - which means Boozer becomes a huge expiring salary next year and effectively turns into an asset. Removing Lowry and Amir and Hansbrough kills Toronto's D, particularly given that Boozer will play PF going forward, and that helps the tank. But really, it's about the two first-round picks.
To Toronto: Carlos Boozer, Chicago's 2014 pick, Charlotte's 2014 pick (protected)
WHY CHICAGO DOES THIS: They want to get rid of Boozer's contract so badly they were trying to trade him for Andrea Bargnani earlier this year. Amir + Kyle + Tyler is much, much better for them than Bargs is: Amir replaces Boozer's functionality in Chicago's frontcourt, Tyler is a capable backup big, Lowry is the replacement Derrick Rose until Rose comes back. Chicago turns Boozer's nearly $17M salary next year into Kyle's nothing, Amir's 7 (only 5 guaranteed) and Tyler's 3 (only 1 guaranteed). For a team looking to replace Boozer with Nikola Mirotic and then sign a big free agent, this is a pretty sweet deal.
WHY TORONTO DOES THIS: Two first-round picks. Boozer's salary is meaningless to us next year since Masai is building for 2016 - which means Boozer becomes a huge expiring salary next year and effectively turns into an asset. Removing Lowry and Amir and Hansbrough kills Toronto's D, particularly given that Boozer will play PF going forward, and that helps the tank. But really, it's about the two first-round picks.
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