The Nets offered Carlos Boozer a contract for $75 million over five years on Wednesday, but the Bulls outbid them, agreeing with the 6'9" PF on a five-year deal worth $80 million. Dave D'Alessandro and Fred Kerber wrote early Wednesday afternoon that the Nets were trying to set up a face-to-face meeting between Boozer and Avery Johnson in Florida, a last ditch move to stop LeBron James from joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
Meanwhile, David Lee's agent is telling media that he expects to make his decision later Wednesday. But the Knicks reportedly have multiple sign-and-trade offers for Lee, one of which they can do if James decides to sign elsewhere. If James decides to play for the Knicks, they'll have to renounce their rights to Lee.
If the Nets don't get Lee and James signs, as expected, with another team, the Nets would have been shut out of the top free agents. Tuesday, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that if that happened, the team might make a front-loaded offer to the Bobcats' Tyrus Thomas.