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OAKLAND — In unequivocal terms, Warriors coach Steve Kerr outlined the role moving forward for Warriors center Zaza Pachulia, beginning with Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena.

“Zaza is our starter. He’s going to be s tarting the vast majority of games,” Kerr said. “But I wouldn’t hesitate to change the starting lineup for a matchup or something like that.”

Kerr did just that in the Warriors’ Christmas Day game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He started Warriors rookie forward Jordan Bell at center despite Pachulia returning to the active roster after missing seven of the past eight games with a sore left shoulder. Instead, Pachulia received a healthy scratch.

Yet, Kerr stressed that move pointed to something circumstantial than something that could become a long-term trend. To view the latest podcast on your mobile device click here. If you haven’t subscribed to Planet Dubs on iTunes, do it here.

“I’m not going to have him chase Kevin Love around and try to guard LeBron [James] on pick and rolls on his first game back,” Kerr said. “That wouldn’t be fair to him or to us.”

Pachulia refused to suggest that decision was unfair to him. Although he wanted to play as any professional athlete he would, Pachulia publicly supported Kerr’s decision and praised him for explaining the thought process to him directly. While the Warriors value Pachulia for his physical presence, screen setting and defense, Kerr has expressed awareness about the need to have quicker and small forwards to adapt to modern offenses that feature frontcourt players extending out to three-point range.

So while Pachulia might come off the bench occasionally for matchup purposes, Ker said “it’s going to be rare” for Pahulia not to play at all.

“He handled it beautifully,” Kerr said. “Zaza is one of the most professional players I’ve ever been around.”

Kerr extended the same praise to veteran center JaVale McGee, who has received healthy scratches in two of the past three games while Bell has received an increased role. Related Articles Klay Thompson practices with Warriors for first time since ACL injury

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“He’s a great teammate and has been nothing but professional,” Kerr said. “We’re counting on him to continue to be part of the group and to produce whenever it is we ask him to do something.”

Still, the Warriors will listen to trade proposals for McGee, mindful they have a logjam of other frontcourt players competing for playing time, including David West and Kevon Looney. The Athletic first reported that Milwaukee inquired about McGee, who will be an unrestricted free agent next July.

“Most matchups, you have to have a big guy that can chase a guy to the three-point line. Things just haven’t gone JaVale’s way. So right now he’s out of the loop,” Kerr said of McGee. “But as he knows and I know and you know, that can change like that. His job is to stay ready and produce when I call upon him. We may need him for energy on a lazy night. I expect him to come in and give us some juice.”