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          Carlos Boozer to have cast removed

          Oct 27, 2010
          • Nick FriedellESPN Staff Writer
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              Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPN Chicago. Friedell is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and joined ESPNChicago.com for its launch in April 2009.
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          OKLAHOMA CITY -- Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer will have his cast removed next week and will begin the rehabilitation process soon after.

          "I get the cast off next Tuesday," said Boozer, who broke his right pinkie on Oct. 2 after falling over a bag in his house. "And then they have to take the pins out. They'll put like a soft cast on for a few days, and then I'll start my rehab and I'll be back out there."

          Boozer, who will travel with the team while he's out, admitted that it is going to be difficult for him to sit on the bench during Wednesday night's season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

          "It's going to be tough to have to watch [Wednesday night]," he said. "Not to be able to be out there celebrating with my teammates as they play against Oklahoma. But like I said, I'll be out there cheering my teammates on, being a good assistant coach and a good teammate and a good cheerleader. But it's going to be very tough not to be able to put my jersey on."

          Boozer, who signed a five-year deal with the Bulls this summer, says he has a target date in his mind about when he would like to be back on the floor, but he didn't want to disclose it to the media.

          Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.