Brandon Rush was supposed to be much better than he is.
Rush was drafted in 2008 with the 13th overall pick by the Portland Trailblazers, then immediately traded to the Pacers after a stellar career at the University of Kansas. He didn’t live up to his early potential, averaging between 8 and 9.4 points per game for most of his career in Indiana, but he hit his stride in Golden State after being traded in 2011. Rush averaged 9.8 points per game while shooting a blistering 45% from behind the arc in 65 games for the Warriors, and he settled in as a serviceable reserve guard in the 3 seasons that followed.
That consistent play made him an attractive possibility for teams looking to shore up their bench play this summer, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have decided to strike while the iron is sort of hot. The ‘Wolves have agreed to a 1-year deal with Rush, which will pay the Kansas alum $3.5 million. Even with the raised cap, it’s a decent sum for a guy that’s been a sometimes-forgotten option for most of his career.