Brandon Rush of the Indiana Pacers in October 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Brandon Rush is back where he wanted to be all along.
Rush agreed to an $8 million, two-year deal Tuesday to stay with the Golden State Warriors after becoming the team's most reliable reserve last season. Rush's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said the second year of the contract is a player option. The deal is pending a physical that Rush will take in the next few days.
''He's thrilled,'' Bartelstein said. ''He had a terrific season with the Warriors. He loves playing for Mark Jackson and he made it clear to me from the beginning of free agency that this is where he wanted to be.''
The signing highlights a busy two days for Golden State's front office.
The Warriors agreed to sign free agent power forward Carl Landry - also represented by Bartelstein - on Monday. That deal is also worth about $8 million over two years with a player option for the second season.
Both moves solidify the bench and likely Golden State's roster. The Warriors now have 15 players signed and no more salary cap space to shuffle without going into the luxury tax.
Rush, a restricted free agent, averaged 9.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 26 minutes per game last season. Rush shot 45.2 percent from 3-point range - sixth best in the NBA - and was Golden State's best option off the bench.
Before free agency began, the Warriors extended a qualifying offer to Rush on June 26 to make him a restricted free agent. The tender allowed the team to match any offer Rush received this summer.
No need for that now.
The 27-year-old Rush appeared in 65 games last season after coming over in a trade from Indiana for Lou Amundson. He posted career highs by shooting 50 percent from the field and 79 percent on free throws, fitting seamlessly into Jackson's system and staying steady despite a rash of injuries that shattered the roster.
Rush was originally drafted 13th overall by Portland in 2008 after leading Kansas to the national championship. He was then traded to Indiana along with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu.
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