Jerome Miron – USA Today Sports Images
The Utah Jazz helped the Golden State Warriors clear enough room in the salary cap this summer by being a trade partner so that the Warriors would have the space to sign free-agent Andre Iguodala. In the deal, the Jazz took on the atrocious contract of Andris Biedrins and Richard Jefferson as well as the salary of Brandon Rush.
Biedrins and Jefferson are well past their days of being effective NBA players and are pretty much just cap-fillers and expiring contracts. Rush, on the other hand, is still an under-30 player that could contribute, if he’s able to stay healthy.
Last season, Rush missed all but two games for the Warriors because of injuries. However, in the lockout-shortened 2011-2012 season, Rush was a solid player for Golden State. In 65 games he averaged 9.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.4 minutes per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the floor and an impressive 45.2 percent from long-range.
While the Jazz have a solid starter at the two-guard in Gordon Hayward, a player many people are excited about in terms of his potential, they really lack depth at shooting guard. Other than Hayward and Rush, rookie Jerel McNeal is the only other shooting guard under contract for the Jazz this year.
The biggest concern with Rush is obviously his health and if he will be as effective of a player as he was before the injuries. However, if he is able to remain healthy, he’s an above-average outside-shooter that can give quality minutes off of the bench for Utah. The Jazz might be rebuilding, but Rush could be a solid addition that they weren’t planning on.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.
