Warriors trade Rush to Hawks for Pachulia - mmcnab91's Dynasty

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Warriors trade Rush to Hawks for Pachulia

Posted on April 25, 2013 at 10:08 PM.

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4/30/13-Warriors deal Rush to Hawks for Pachulia

Zaza Pachulia

OAKLAND-Golden State addressed an important need in their third offseason move Tuesday, sending shooting guard Brandon Rush to the Atlanta Hawks for center Zaza Pachulia.

Starting center Andrew Bogut only played 34 games in 2012-13 recovering from a series of ankle injuries, so finding a capable backup center was one of Golden State's most crucial holes to fill this offseason. The Warriors announced last week that backup center Festus Ezeli would move to power forward, and Andris Biedrins�owed $9 million next season�is likely on his way out after averaging less than a point a game in 2012-13.

Pachulia, who spent the last eight seasons with Atlanta, only averaged 1.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 80 games for the Hawks, with the team choosing to use smaller lineups or power forward Ivan Johnson to spell starter Al Horford.

However, at his best, Pachulia is an effective starter; in his last full season as a starter in 2006-07, Pachulia averaged 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in 78 games. Atlanta planned to cut Pachulia after the season, according to Hawks general manager Danny Ferry.

Bogut's injury meant Golden State had to play power forward David Lee, one of the league's worst interior defenders, out of position. That lineup typically meant sixth man Carl Landry would start at power forward, leaving Golden State particularly thin in their frontcourt depth.

Rush averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 82 games for the Warriors in 2012-13, way down from the 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds he averaged during the 2011-12 season. Rush saw his minutes severely cut in his second season with Golden State because of the additions of Jarrett Jack and Michael Redd onto the Warriors roster.

Rush will likely be cut after the season, according to a Hawks front office source, saving Atlanta approximately $4 million.