The Los Angeles Lakers won their amnesty bid on forward Carlos Boozer recently resulting in the team replacing Pau Gasol with a proven veteran. Boozer isn’t the same player he used to be with the Utah Jazz, but he’ll bring veteran leadership and the potential for a double-double on a nightly basis.
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On Friday, Boozer was introduced by the Lakers and fielded questions at the team’s practice facility. Boozer talked about speaking with Kobe Bryant saying the superstar told him the following, according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe's message to Carlos Boozer: Come ready. Come ready to surprise some people.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 25, 2014
Last season, Boozer’s numbers dropped somewhat drastically with the Chicago Bulls. Boozer averaged 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting a career-low 45.6 percent from the floor.
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Boozer has always been consistent in terms of averages with his points and rebounds per game. The veteran forward has averaged a double-double five times in his career, but struggled last year in Chicago.
In 12 NBA seasons, Boozer averaged 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jazz and Bulls. Solid numbers over the course of his career since being drafted out of Duke back in 2002, but it remains to be seen if he can bounce back next season while wearing purple and gold.
[divide]Kobe Bryant’s message to Jeremy Lin