Hawks Sign Zaza Pachulia

ATLANTA, GA (Aug. 11, 2005) -- The Atlanta Hawks today signed free agent center
Zaza Pachulia
(pronounced Za-Za Pa-CHUL-e-ya) to a
contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.
Per club policy, terms of the deal were not
disclosed. The Hawks originally submitted an offer sheet on Pachulia to the
Milwaukee Bucks on August 3, and the Bucks
elected not to match the offer.

"Zaza is a young player who gives us size in the middle, and shows surprising
toughness for his age," said Knight. "He has
filled an important role off the bench during his brief NBA career and we feel
he will continue to show tremendous progress
in the future."

A two-year NBA veteran, the 6-11, 240-pound Pachulia averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.1
rpg in 18.9 mpg last season (.452 FG%,
.644 FT%), appearing in 74 contests for Milwaukee. He spent his rookie campaign
(2003-04) with Orlando, averaging 3.3 ppg
and 2.9 rpg in 11.3 mpg (59 games).

He was originally picked in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA
Draft by the Magic. Following his season in
Orlando, he was selected by Charlotte in the 2004 Expansion Draft, then acquired
by the Bucks for a 2004 second-round draft
choice.

The 21-year-old native of the Republic of Georgia played parts of four seasons
for Ulker (Istanbul, Turkey) from 1999-2003,
helping the club capture the 2001 and 2002 Turkish President's Cup, as well as
the 2001 Turkish National Championship.

Zaur Pachulia (has legally changed his first name to Zaza) was born February 10,
1984 in Tbilisi, Georgia. He will wear
uniform no. 27.