The Carlos Boozer era isn’t officially over in Chicago, but Taj Gibson is definitely the man now on the low block. CBS Local in Chicago is reporting that the Bulls have informed Gibson that he’ll now start at power forward for the team.
Gibson, the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award, confirmed to Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley that he was told “to get my body and mind right to be a starter.’’
“I mean this will be exciting,’’ Gibson told Cowley. “This is what I’ve always thought about. When I started (those six games) for Boozer when he was hurt during the season, I just know how excited I was, how good it felt to come to the arena.’’
Gibson averaged 13.0 points and 6.8 rebounds last season in 28.7 minutes per game. He started eight games but came off the bench for the rest of the ballgames. In that six-game starting, Gibson averaged 20.6 points and 9.7 rebounds.
Boozer is owed $16.8 million next season, and the Bulls are likely to use the amnesty provision on him to wipe him from their salary cap.