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Bulls acquire F Carlos BoozerBasketball Betting Lines07/08/2010 - CHICAGO (AP) -Carlos Boozer is now officially a member of the Chicago Bulls. The two-time All-Star forward is going to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz, giving them the dominant big man they've craved for years. He and the Bulls agreed Wednesday to what several outlets reported was a five-year deal worth roughly $75 million dollars. Shortly after Chicago announced the signing on Thursday, Jazz spokesman Jonathan Rinehart said Utah sent him along with a future protected second-round pick to the Bulls for a trade exception. The deal gives the Jazz salary cap flexibility while the Bulls get a major presence inside. ``I feel we have the talent here to begin competing for a title and I cannot wait to get started,'' Boozer said. The Bulls also confirmed the draft day trade that sent Kirk Hinrich and his $9 million salary along with the rights to No. 17 pick Kevin Seraphin to Washington. They received the rights to 2006 second-rounder Vladimir Veremeenko in return. But more important, that deal put them in position to sign two major stars. They already had an All-Star point guard in Derrick Rose and one of the leading rebounders in Joakim Noah. Now, with the flexibility to make a big splash in free agency, the Bulls were looking for more after back-to-back first-round playoff exits. They did that when they reeled in Boozer on Wednesday, after Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh decided to team together in Miami instead of Chicago. By landing Boozer, the Bulls ensured they wouldn't go away empty-handed. ``We are confident that his skill set, toughness and leadership are all qualities that make him a great fit for the Bulls, and he will add a low-post element to our team that we have been searching for,'' Bulls general manager Gar Forman said in a statement. ``Post players, with the skills that Carlos possesses, are at a premium in the NBA and we believe that we have landed one of the best big men in the NBA.'' Most years, Boozer might be the top free agent, but this is like no other offseason. Teams did all they could to clear salary cap room to go after the stars, and the Bulls were no exception. They made a big move by landing Boozer, who spent six years with Utah and averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds last season. His arrival gives the Bulls a big man who will attract double-teams, taking some pressure off Rose, and another double-double player to go with Noah. Although he sometimes clashed with management and was limited by injuries in three of his six years with the Jazz, Boozer played in 78 games the past season. His arrival in Utah came after an awkward exit from Cleveland following the 2003-04 season. The Cavaliers, who could have exercised a one-year option after Boozer's second season, thought they had a six-year, $41 million agreement in place and let him hit the market. Boozer wound up accepting a six-year, $68 million dollar contract as a restricted free agent that they chose not to match. The Cavaliers' general manager at the time was Jim Paxson, who is now a Bulls scout and consultant. And his brother John Paxson is Chicago's executive vice president of basketball operations. -- AP Sports Writer Doug Alden in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Votto, Swisher voted as final All-Stars
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto and New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher were chosen by fan voting as the final two All-Stars, Major League Baseball announced Thursday MORE TO FOLLOW...
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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDSNFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with. Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win. Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year. Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City. The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs. Big 12 Conference betting odds Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State Work left to do: Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on. Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough. Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.
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