Nuggets waive Eric Boateng

The Denver Nuggets waived C Eric Boateng on Wednesday, bringing their training-camp roster to 14 players.

Boateng, an undrafted free agent, averaged 1.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in five preseason games. He had two points, 10 rebounds and two assists against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 17.

The Nuggets (4-2) conclude their preseason schedule with back-to-back road games Thursday at Portland and Friday at Phoenix.

Thunder waive Jerome Dyson and Elijah Millsap

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Jerome Dyson and guard Elijah Millsap it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Dyson saw action in two games this preseason for Oklahoma City, averaging 4.5 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.5 minutes.

Millsap appeared in four games for the Thunder, averaging 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 12.5 minutes.

Oklahoma City’s roster now stands at 15.

Suns F Josh Childress breaks finger

Suns F Josh Childress breaks finger

Phoenix Suns forward Josh Childress suffered a fractured distal phalanx (index finger) on his right hand during the Suns’ exhibition win over the Golden State Warriors tonight at US Airways Center.

Childress will do no activity for approximately one week and will be re-evaluated at that time.

Childress suffered the injury after being fouled on a drive to the basket with 7:54 remaining in tonight’s home preseason contest.  Childress returned to the game with 5:39 remaining and played the rest of regulation, finishing with three points and five rebounds.

Including tonight’s contest, Childress owns preseason averages of 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds, and is shooting 57.1 percent from the field (20-of-35) in seven games as a reserve.

Raptors release Ronald Dupree

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have released forward Ronald Dupree.

A free agent, Dupree was signed September 15. He appeared in five preseason games where he totaled 20 points and eight rebounds in 55 minutes.

The roster now stands at 15.

The Raptors’ final preseason game is Friday versus the New York Knicks at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Raptors and Knicks will tip-off the regular season at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, October 27.

Gordon Hayward may earn a regular spot within Jazz rotation

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News reports:

Gordon Hayward may earn a regular spot within Jazz rotation

He hardly expects Gordon Hayward to do every night what he did Sunday.

But the day after Utah’s 2010 first-round draft choice scored a team-high 26 in a preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan hinted Hayward has a shot at cracking Utah’s regular rotation for the 2010-11 NBA season.

“We intend on trying to play him,” Sloan said. “He’s got a lot of basketball savvy. And he’s got a lot to learn, which is fine.

“He’ll work,” Sloan added, “to try to get better every time we play. And we see him do other things each time we play — some good, some bad. But we’re not dissatisfied with him. We think he’s gonna be a very good player.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: One obstacle Hayward faces is constantly being asked for ID by security to prove he’s over age 13 and is allowed to scoot around without being accompanied by a parent or guardian.

NBA bans shoes designed to increase vertical leap

The AP reports:

The NBA said in a statement Tuesday that “under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game that creates an undue competitive advantage.”

Athletic Propulsion Labs’ Concept 1 shoe employs a spring-based system designed to increase lift.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Players need shoes like this in order to try to sky-walk through the air like I do.