HoopsHype.com Rumors

With your situation (unrestricted free agent), is it safe to say you want to be back? Zaza Pachulia: How can’t I. I’ve been here eight years and I call Atlanta home. You guys know the relationship between me and fans. I would love to be back again. I’ve been in this situation, this is my third time being free agent and we all understand that this is a business. We’ll see when July comes and we’ll see what offers I get from what teams. I hope Atlanta will be one of them. How do you handle the uncertainty? Zaza Pachulia: I feel very confident. Not only for this year but for 10 years I’ve been playing in the NBA. Teams know me. So my main focus honestly is to take care of this foot and start working out and get back in shape. The goal is to obviously be the best shape possible for next training camp. This is something that concerns me more than free agency honestly. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Is there any way you are allowing it to go through your mind that you won’t return here for a quote home-town discount? Zaza Pachulia: Again, I hope so. I really hope so. I totally understand that the Atlanta Hawks have so much work to do this summer. (There are) so many free agents and key players and the coaching staff. It’s hard to say anything. Once time goes you’ll have a better idea of the big picture but right now it’s very, very hard to say from my standpoint and from their standpoint as well. I totally understand. I have reason not to think about it because of my foot. Right now the focus is to get back on track. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Pachulia wants to return: Zaza Pachulia stood with a walking boot on his right foot and a basketball tucked under his right arm Saturday. They served as symbols of his present and future. The Hawks center missed the final 24 games of the regular season after surgery to repair a partially torn Achillies. Pachulia, a fan favorite, is an unrestricted free agent, and after spending the past eight season in Atlanta, he wants to return. “How can I not (want to be back),” Pachulia said after cleaning out his locker following the season-ending loss. “I’ve been here eight years. I call Atlanta home. You guys know the relationship between me and fans. I would love to be back again. This is my third time being a free agent, and we all understand the business, but again, we’ll see what July brings.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Chris Vivlamore: Zaza Pachulia said he hasn't thought about his future. 'I'm still a part of this team until June 31.' #ATLHawks Twitter @ajchawks

Atlanta Hawks, Zaza Pachulia 

Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia will undergo surgery on his sore right Achilles and miss the rest of the season. The Hawks said the 29-year-old Pachulia is scheduled for surgery Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. The expected recovery time is approximately six months, meaning the Hawks will be without another valuable member of their bench heading into the playoffs. The team already lost guard Lou Williams to a season-ending knee injury. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Zaza Pachulia may have played his last game with the Hawks. He has definitely played his last game this season. Pachulia, plagued by a sore right Achilles for two months, will undergo a surgical procedure and miss the remainder of the year. The center and fan favorite, who spent the past eight seasons with the Hawks, is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Details of the surgery, a procedure to repair the sore Achilles, and the recovery period are to be determined. “After thoroughly reviewing the possible options with Zaza, we all felt this was the best decision to ensure Zaza’s complete recovery so that he can be at 100 percent going forward,” Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manger Danny Ferry said. “Zaza is a professional with a strong work ethic. The Hawks will continue to be completely supportive as he tackles the return to play process.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Zaza Pachulia did not accompany the Hawks on the road trip as he continues to rehabilitate a sore right Achilles. Pachulia remains out indefinitely with the injury that will have cost him 21 games, including the past 15, by the time the Hawks return home. A decision on Pachulia’s status for the remainder of the regular-season could come next week. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Zaza Pachulia said Thursday that he is out indefinitely as he awaits final medical reports from the second and third opinions he received on his ailing right Achilles. Pachulia will miss his seventh straight game Friday when the Hawks take on the Suns. The center said the soreness in his Achilles has gotten worse, prompting the additional medical advice. It will also be the 13th game in the past 24 he has missed with the condition. “Right now, I can just say that I’m out indefinitely,” Pachulia told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday. “We are in the process of different treatments. There is no timeframe. All I can say is it is indefinite. There is no report from the doctors yet. Basically, every day matters. We are expecting it to get better. We don’t know when or how soon. Hopefully the treatments will help.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Chris Vivlamore: Zaza Pachulia says he is out indefinitely. Still waiting on full medical reports on Achilles. #ATLHawks Twitter @ajchawks

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

The Hawks played without Zaza Pachulia for a fourth consecutive game Saturday. A sore right Achilles has bothered the center for a month and a half. Pachulia has missed 10 of the past 21 games with the issue. The team lists Pachulia as day-to-day, although there is no clear timetable on when he might return. “He has seen doctors,” coach Larry Drew said. “Right now we are waiting to see how he progresses. It won’t be anything that we rush. We’ll wait on whenever he feels he can come back, or if he can come back. Right now, he’s just day-to-day.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Chris Vivlamore: Hawks have not heard from league about post-game incident where Bucks' Larry Sanders grabbed Zaza Pachulia. #ATLHawks Twitter @ajchawks

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Larry Sanders, Zaza Pachulia 

Ellis just missed a driving layup with Harris draped on him at the buzzer and the Hawks could celebrate the start of a six-game road trip. Following the game, Sanders grabbed Zaza Pachulia from behind as the team’s came together at midcourt. The Bucks were upset after Pachulia was called for a Flagrant Foul I earlier in the fourth quarter on John Henson. Pachulia would not discuss the post-game issue other than to say, “They are mad because they lost.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Zaza Pachulia, John Henson 

Alex Kennedy: Strangest rumor I've heard: Amar'e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert for Josh Smith and a filler such as Zaza Pachulia. As I wrote in the deadline diary, it seems extremely unlikely and out of left field. But it has been floating around so I passed it along. tinyurl.com/bxro94g Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia, Iman Shumpert 

Got it. And as you've grown up, is it true you're into fashion now? Josh Smith: I am. Zaza (Pachulia, backup Hawks center) got me into that. He thinks he's a fashion guru, so anything that he disagrees with you wearing he's going let you know about it. I used to... I just, I didn't really care. Jeans and a button down? Or a t-shirt (laughs). Last time I saw you, you were wearing tailored mustard slacks and a pea coat. I'm growing up, man, I'm growing up before your eyes. GQ.com

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia 

Chris Vivlamore: Al Horford did not make trip to Charlotte. No Zaza Pachulia either. Ivan Johnson could start. #ATLHawks Twitter @ajchawks

Atlanta Hawks, Al Horford, Injuries, Zaza Pachulia 

Atlanta Hawks backup center-forward Zaza Pachulia told USA TODAY Sports he plans to play for Georgia at this summer Eurobasket in Slovenia, but that it may be his last major international competition. Georgia had never qualified for Eurobasket until 2011 and another appearance is a significant accomplishment for the former Soviet republic. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Zaza Pachulia, Georgia, Eurobasket 

“Obviously we are going to miss him but we are just going to move on,” said Zaza Pachulia, who will start against the Nets. “There have been situations where we played two games without Josh. … Everybody is frustrated, coaches, players. I don’t see any happy guy in the locker room right now. Everybody is really trying to play good and win basketball games and get back on track. Yesterday, maybe it just went too much. It was what it was. We let it go. Everybody learned from it and we moved on.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia 

A lot of the buzz surrounding Pachulia started early last season when the veteran filled in as a starter for the injured Al Horford and averaged 8.7 points and 8.8 rebounds on 51 percent shooting from the floor. “Free agency, it’s not my first time,” Pachulia told HOOPSWORLD on his upcoming free agency. “I’ve been there before. This is my third free agency. It gets less stressful every time, maybe because I’ve established a name. My mentality is to keep working hard and playing the right way. I should be okay in free agency. I’m not worried.” HoopsWorld

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

“Honestly it’s too early to start thinking about if I want to leave Atlanta,” Pachulia said. “Of course I am happy here. This is my eighth year in Atlanta. I’ve been enjoying living here. I call Atlanta my home. But like for everybody else, this is a business.” “I’m all about the team right now,” Pachulia added. “So we’ll see summertime. I’ve been there before and I’ve been in the league long enough that teams know me, what I can do and what I bring to the table. That’s for the future, when I’ll be worrying about that.” HoopsWorld

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Zaza Pachulia 

Pachulia on flop warning: “It’s a rule so you have to respect the game, respect the rules. Honestly, my first reaction because I saw the elbow coming was just to try to get out of the way because I was so close. I wasn’t trying to flop there but if you look at the film it’s obvious it looks like I was flopping. I was just trying to get out of the way. If the elbow came, I would rather take the $5,000 fine than a broken jaw. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Zaza Pachulia, Referees