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Report: Pachulia turned down 2-year, $20M offer from Wizards to join Warriors

Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Center Zaza Pachulia reportedly left a great deal of money on the table to sign with the Golden State Warriors and chase his first NBA championship.

The Washington Wizards originally offered the 32-year-old a two-year, $20-million contract in free agency, league sources told CSN's J. Michael.

Pachulia elected to join the defending Western Conference champions on a much cheaper deal instead, inking a one-year contract for a touch less than $3 million. Washington eventually wound up with Ian Mahinmi as its backup to Marcin Gortat for $64 million over four years.

Considering the high dollar amounts big men around the league had been negotiating for themselves under the league's skyrocketing salary cap, it's clear Pachulia's motivation was the opportunity to be a champion in a winning environment, and not what's getting deposited into his bank account.

The 6-foot-11 Georgian has earned $51.5 million since being selected 42nd overall in the 2003 NBA Draft, including $5.2 million last season with the Dallas Mavericks. He's never once advanced past the second round of the playoffs.

Pachulia averaged 8.6 points on 46.6 percent shooting and 9.4 rebounds in 26.4 minutes over 76 appearances with Dallas. He's expected to slot in as the starting center in Golden State's star-studded lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green.

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