PORTLAND, Ore. -- Zaza Pachulia is still with the Atlanta Hawks after the team explored trading him before the deadline on Thursday, and Pachulia said he's glad because "you never know where you are going to go."
But Pachulia, a reserve center, said he's not happy about his playing time.
“In the bigger picture, on a different team it might be a better situation where I am getting more playing time and being more involved," he said. "For now, I am happy. . . . I definitely want to enjoy this year and do my best for this team.”
Pachulia's playing time had been sporadic over the past five games before Atlanta played at Portland late Sunday. He didn't play at Phoenix on Wednesday as the Hawks were engaged in trade discussions and he also stayed on the bench for Friday's game at Golden State.
Pachulia, who is under contract for the two seasons following this one, said that since the season started he hasn't talked to coach Larry Drew about his minutes. He said Drew was aware of his displeasure with playing time under Drew's predecessor, Mike Woodson, for whom Drew was an assistant.
“Bottom line is whenever I get a chance to get on the court I am trying to do my best and help the team,” Pachulia said.
Drew said he played Josh Powellahead of Pachulia at Golden State because the team had lost five of six games "and I wanted to make sort of a change to give us a different look and jump start us a little bit." He said he liked Powell's production in that game and so may stick with him ahead of Pachulia in the rotation.
Drew said he isn't "giving up" on Pachulia and would need him in the future.
“This is just not a time to be sensitive,” Drew said. “This is a results business. I am willing to give every guy an opportunity but we have got to come up with wins."
Pachulia generally has been more productive and efficient and seemed more engaged in the games he played more minutes this season.
"It’s obvious,” he said. “Especially the role I am in, to bring energy. . . [it's difficult to] make a difference in five, six minutes right away. I have had the games [where I] played more than 20 minutes [and] this is where you see the efficiency and my effort and energy. "
Crawford mourns
Hawks guard Jamal Crawford returned to his native Seattle area Thursday to attend funeral services for friend and mentor Paul Lawrence, a sports agent based in Everett. Lawrence died of a heart attack while playing basketball on Feb. 16.
Crawford had known Lawrence since high school and helped him break into the agent business. Crawford said he spoke to Everett the night before he died and the loss has weighed on him.
"It helped bring some closure hearing all the things people said about him," Crawford said.
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