Chicago Bulls F Carlos Boozer needs surgery on fracture hand, could miss 2 months

Bulls’ Boozer out 2 months with broken hand

CHICAGO — Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, one of Chicago’s top offseason acquisitions, broke his right hand Saturday and could be out for two months.

Boozer fractured the fifth metacarpal bone in his hand and will need surgery, the team said Sunday. He was evaluated by team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialist Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.

It was unclear how Boozer was injured. The Bulls did not practice Saturday, and a team spokeswoman called the injury “non-basketball related.”

Boozer spent the previous six years with Utah and averaged 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds last season before joining the Bulls in a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz.

A two-time All-Star, Boozer has a five-year deal worth about $75 million. The Bulls were counting on him to team with Joakim Noah for a solid inside game, while also giving star point guard Derrick Rose an option on the pick-and-roll.

The Bulls hired Tom Thibodeau as their new coach and also added Ronnie Brewer, Keith Bogans and Kyle Korver in the offseason to try to move deeper into the postseason after consecutive first-round playoff eliminations.

Chicago begins preseason play Tuesday night.