October 2015 – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Raptors set opening night roster

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday their roster for Wednesday’s regular season opener against the Indiana Pacers at Air Canada Centre (TSN/Sportsnet 590 The FAN, 7:30 p.m.).

The Raptors waived Michael (Michael) Kyser, Ronald Roberts, Shannon Scott and Axel Toupane (too-PON) Saturday to get to the league roster limit of 15 players.

Toronto recorded a club-record 49 wins and earned its second consecutive Atlantic Division crown last season.

Toronto returns eight players that ended last season with the team. Newcomers to the roster are Canadian Anthony Bennett (Minnesota), Bismack Biyombo (Charlotte), DeMarre Carroll (Atlanta), Canadian Cory Joseph (San Antonio), Norman Powell (UCLA), Luis Scola (Indiana) and Delon Wright (Utah, first-round draft pick).

Grizzlies waive Ryan Hollins

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins (7-0, 230) appeared in seven preseason games for the Grizzlies, posting 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. The 31-year-old originally was signed by Memphis on Sept. 28.

It would not be surprising to see Hollins land on another roster soon.

The Grizzlies’ roster currently stands at 15 players.

Sixers set regular season roster

The Philadelphia 76ers announced they have waived guards Pierre Jackson, J.P. Tokoto, Scottie Wilbekin and Jordan McRae, and forward Furkan Aldemir.

Additionally, the Sixers signed center Jordan Railey, who has also been waived and will be a Designated Affiliate of the NBA Development League Delaware 87ers.

The team is rebuilding, still. On and on, the rebuild goes. Where it stops, no one knows.

Mavericks waive Maurice Ndour

The Dallas Mavericks have requested waivers on forward Maurice Ndour.

Ndour (6-9, 200) was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 22. He saw action in four preseason games for Dallas and averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 22.8 minutes per game. The rookie forward missed the final three games of the exhibition season with a left tibial stress reaction.

Ndour spent two years at Monroe College where he was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region selection before transferring to Ohio University. In his first season at Ohio, Ndour averaged 13.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while starting 31 of his 36 games. As a senior for the Bobcats, he increased those averages to 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game on his way to being named All-Mid-American Conference Second Team.

The Mavericks’ roster is now set for their season opener at Phoenix on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Nets waive Justin Harper and Dahntay Jones

The Brooklyn Nets have waived forward Justin Harper and guard/forward Dahntay Jones, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Today is the day all NBA teams must trim their rosters to 15 players or less. The Nets, now at 15 players, have done this.

Harper (6’10”, 225), who signed with Brooklyn on September 18, appeared in six preseason contests with averages of 9.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game.

Jones (6’6”, 215), who signed with Brooklyn on September 10, averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in four preseason games. It would not surprise us if another team decides to add him to their roster.

The NBA regular season begins tomorrow.

Pacers waive Toney Douglas

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have requested waivers on 6-2 guard Toney Douglas.

He played in five preseason games and averaged 6.6 points and 1.6 assists per game.

At this point in his career, Douglas may latch onto another team’s roster, but he also might fall out of the league. If we had to guess, the veteran has a fairly good shot at sticking around in the league for another season.

Pistons wave Danny Granger

The Detroit Pistons have requested waivers on forward Danny Granger, who used to have serious NBA game but is now mostly an afterthought. Injuries messed him up.

Granger, 32, was acquired from the Phoenix Suns along with Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock on July 9, 2015, in exchange for a 2020 second round draft selection.

The 10-year NBA veteran, who has appeared in 586 regular season games (431 starts) with the Indiana Pacers (2005-14), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14) and Miami HEAT (2014-15), owns averages of 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 31.5 minutes per game.

Lakers waive Jabari Brown

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Jabari Brown, General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today.

Which means, unless the team makes another change, Metta World Peace has made the roster.

Brown appeared in six games for the Lakers this preseason, averaging 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. In 19 games (five starts) for the Lakers last season, Brown, who was signed to a multi-year contract on April 1, averaged 11.9 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per contest.

The Lakers roster now stands at 15.

Luc Mbah a Moute latches on with Clippers

Here’s the Long Beach Press-Telegram reporting on a solid player for a team to be able to bring off a pretty full bench:

It’s been quite an offseason for Luc Mbah a Moute. After playing 61 games for Philadelphia last season, the free-agent forward out of UCLA signed with the Sacramento Kings in mid-July.

Mbah a Moute failed a physical examination administered by the Kings, the contract was quickly voided and the players association filed a grievance on Mbah a Moute’s behalf.

Mbah a Moute ended up in Clippers camp and when the team waived forward-center Chuck Hayes on Saturday, that meant Mbah a Moute had made the roster. Not that he was told.

“They didn’t tell me I can’t be here anymore, so I’m here,” he said, laughingly, at practice Sunday morning.

In Miami, eyes on Hassan Whiteside

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Heat center Hassan Whiteside. Playing alongside multiple proven veterans, eyes will be on the talented big-man as he continues to improve:

Was it fact or flash, what Whiteside offered over the second half of last season? Can it be replicated over the course of an entire season now that the double-teams, hard fouls and scouting reports are about to enter the equation?

Why does Whiteside’s at-the-rim game matter so much? Because look at the rest of the power rotation, where Bosh is hoisting 3-pointers, Josh McRoberts is passing out of the high post, Amar’e Stoudemire is shooting baseline jumpers, Chris Andersen is saving his 37-year-old legs for the defensive end and Udonis Haslem’s lift has almost been extinguished.

No single player impacts the Heat on both ends of the court as much as Whiteside. He has to pick up where he left off.