Sources stressed to ESPN.com that no deal was imminent Thursday and that both Portland and Utah are still evaluating multiple trade scenarios. But two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed that there have been substantive talks regarding a trade that would land Boozer in Chicago, Hinrich in Portland and Tyrus Thomas in Utah.

I’m still a bit skeptical about Boozer fitting next to Rose in the upbeat offense the Bulls are trying to run, but if Hinrich’s contract can be moved this would be amazing.  The Bulls would then have around $40 million in cap space next summer, since Boozer’s contract expires then and Hinrich’s wouldn’t have expired until 2011.  2009 would then basically be a test year for Boozer, and if he works out they can try to re-sign him (for more than he could get anywhere else under the current collective bargaining agreement).  They would also then have more than enough leftover for another one of the big free agents from the 2010 class, which includes Bosh, Wade, James, and Stoudemire.  Or if Boozer doesn’t work out, the Bulls can say bye-bye and use all that money to pursue not just one, but possibly two of the big-name free agents.  Although seeing Tyrus leave would be regrettable, since I am one of the believers that he could still mature into a great player, it would be well worth it to replace him with Boozer and then have the flexibility this move would allow.  Hopefully Gar Paxdorf can pull it off.