Carlos Boozer is trading places with Pau Gasol.
The Chicago Bulls used the amnesty clause with the power forward earlier this week after they signed former Los Angeles Lakers 7-footer Gasol. That left Boozer available to the highest bidder and the Lakers swooped in and claimed him Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The amount of the Lakers’ bid was not yet known.
Teams under the salary cap had the opportunity to bid on Boozer. The Lakers’ bid amount will be subtracted from what the Bulls owe Boozer for next season. Chicago will pay the remainder of his $16.8 million contract.
In Los Angeles, Boozer will join power forwards Julius Randle, the No. 7 overall pick the NBA Draft last month, free agent Ed Davis and Jordan Hill.
A 12-year veteran, Boozer averaged a career-low 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season for the Bulls, well below his career averages are 16.6 points and 9.8 rebounds.
If no team had bid on Boozer, he would have become an unrestricted free agent who was free with sign with any team.
In four seasons with the Bulls, Boozer started 280 games and averaged 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He came to Chicago in 2010 from the Utah Jazz and signed a five-year, $75 million contract.