Bucks trade again, dealing Pachulia to Mavericks for second-round pick
Eight hours after formally introducing new center Greg Monroe, the Bucks have traded his predecessor.
Milwaukee dealt Zaza Pachulia to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a future second-round draft pick, the team announced Thursday evening.
Pachulia, who started 45 games for the Bucks last season and all six playoff contests, and his $5.2 million expiring contract became expendable with the free-agent signing of Monroe, which became official earlier in the day. The 6-foot-11 Pachulia appeared in 73 games in 2014-15, averaging 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The 12-year veteran from the Republic of Georgia will add depth at center for the Mavericks, who lost out on free-agent target DeAndre Jordan.
After inking a three-year, $50 million contract, Monroe is solidified as Milwaukee's center. Last season, the 25-year-old started 57 games for the Detroit Pistons, putting up 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Behind him, the Bucks have John Henson, a 24-year-old active defender and rebounder who can play power forward, and center Miles Plumlee.
The Bucks have made several trades since the season ended that indicate they are fully committing to their young core of Monroe, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Michael Carter-Williams. On June 11, they sent forward Ersan Ilyasova to the Pistons for Caron Butler and Shawne Williams, both of whom were later waived. On the night of the NBA Draft, they acquired guard Greivis Vasquez from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for two future picks, a protected first-rounder and a second-rounder. On July 2, they dealt forward Jared Dudley to the Washington Wizards in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
Vasquez, at 28, is now the oldest player on Milwaukee's roster.
On Thursday night, after the Pachulia trade was announced, Henson tweeted: "Gonna miss my two vets @JaredDudley619 and @zaza27 . . . best of luck to them both. Great players but even better people. Taught me so much."
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