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The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday they have waived three players: 6-8 forward DeQuan Jones, 6-5 guard Trey McKinney Jones and 6-8 forward Ben Moore.
NBA preseason ended on Friday, and with the regular season starting Tuesday teams around the league are trimming down their rosters, which means waiving the vast majority of players they signed to non-guaranteed training camp contracts.
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The Utah Jazz have waived guard Nazareth Mitrou-Long.
Mitrou-Long (6-4, 218, Iowa State) saw action in two preseason games with Utah, averaging 4.0 points and 1.0 assists in 7.0 minutes per contest. The 24-year-old totaled five points on 2-of-4 from the field, one rebound and one assist against Maccabi Haifa on Oct. 4.
During his career at Iowa State, Mitrou-Long appeared in 131 games (83 starts) averaging 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists, helping to lead the Cyclones to three Big 12 Championships. He would finish his collegiate career with 260 three-point field goals, the second most in school history, in addition to becoming just one of 11 players ever for Iowa State to tally 1,200 points, 300 rebounds and 200 assists over his career.
Born in Ontario, Canada, Mitrou-Long played high school basketball at Findlay College Prep in Henderson, Nev.
Following the move, the roster now stands at 18 players.
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Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area during an altercation, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 9:33 remaining in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 113-104 preseason win over the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 11 at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
McCollum will be suspended for the first game of the 2017-18 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Elijah Millsap.
Millsap appeared in four games for the Suns this preseason, totaling 10 points in 24 minutes. He originally signed with the Suns on April 9, playing in the club’s final two games of the 2016-17 season. Millsap averaged 19.7 points for the Northern Arizona Suns in 2016-17, leading the Suns’ G League affiliate in scoring during their inaugural campaign.
The Suns’ roster now stands at 17 players.
The Miami Heat have waived DeAndre Liggins, Erik McCree and Tony Mitchell.
Liggins, who was signed on October 10, started in his only preseason game with the HEAT last night against Philadelphia and totaled five points, three rebounds and a steal in 26:36 minutes of action.
McCree, who was signed on September 18, appeared in two games with Miami this preseason totaling six points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal while shooting 3-of-8 from the field.
Mitchell, who was signed on October 12, did not appear in a game with the HEAT.
The HEAT’s roster now stands at 17.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived Amile Jefferson, Melo Trimble and Shawne Williams.
Jefferson appeared in one preseason game for Minnesota totaling one rebound in four minutes of action. The Wolves originally signed Jefferson on September 18, 2017.
Trimble registered four points and one rebound in his lone appearance this preseason. Trimble was originally signed by the Wolves on September 18, 2017.
Williams was signed by Minnesota on October 13, 2017.
The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on Vander Blue, Travis Wear and Briante Weber.
Blue played in five preseason games and averaged 3.4 points, while Weber notched 3.0 points, 1.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in three games played.
The Lakers roster stands at 16.
The Utah Jazz have waived forward Kendall Pollard.
Following the move, the roster now stands at 19.
Pollard (6-6, 230, Dayton) appeared in 26 games (24 starts) as a senior in 2016-17, owning averages of 14.0 points on 52.5 percent from the field, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 25.9 minutes per contest. Named to the 2017 All-Atlantic-10 Third Team, Pollard ranked third in the conference in field goal percentage, helping the squad to a 24-8 record, a conference regular season championship and a NCAA Tournament appearance.
Over his four years at Dayton, Pollard appeared in 125 career games (76 starts) with averages of 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists, helping lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in four-straight seasons (2014-17), including a trip to the 2014 Elite Eight. As a sophomore in 2014-15, the Chicago native earned the Atlantic-10 Most Improved Player Award.
The 22-year-old attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago and was a member of the 2013, 2012 and 2011 Illinois 4A State Championship teams.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived center Kendrick Perkins and guard Isaac Hamilton, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
Perkins (6-10, 270) appeared in three preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 12.1 minutes. Hamilton (6-4, 194), who was originally signed on Oct. 11, 2017, did not play in a preseason game with Cleveland.
The Philadelphia 76ers have converted guard Jacob Pullen’s contract to a two-way contract, 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo announced today.
And in separate moves, Philadelphia has agreed to terms with guard Andrew Andrews, forward Marc Loving and forward James Webb III.
Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man NBA regular-season roster. A two-way player for the Sixers will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware 87ers – but can spend up to 45 days with the Sixers, not including any time spent with the Sixers prior to the start of Sevens’ training camp or following the conclusion of the Sevens’ regular season. Pullen is the second player that the Sixers have signed to a two-way contract, joining James Michael McAdoo.
Pullen appeared in four preseason games with the Sixers, posting averages of 2.8 points and 1.0 assist in 6.8 minutes per game. He most recently played professionally for BC Khimki of the VTB United League in Russia. Across VTB and Eurocup play, Pullen appeared in 40 games and averaged 10 points and two assists per contest. Since 2011, he has played professionally in Italy, Israel, Spain and Croatia in addition to his most recent season in Russia.
A 6-foot-1-inch guard, Pullen starred at Kansas State from 2007-11, averaging 16 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals across 135 games (67 starts). As a senior in 2010-11, he posted 20 points and four assists per game as he was named First Team All-Big 12; an honor he also earned as a junior. The Wildcats reached the NCAA Tournament in three of Pullen’s four seasons at the school, including an appearance in the 2010 Elite Eight.
Andrews spent last season playing for Best Balikesir Basketbol Kulubu in the Turkish Basketball Super League. He appeared in 19 games (18 starts) and averaged 14.2 points on .431 shooting along with 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Andrews was undrafted in 2016, following a four-year career at University of Washington, which included 2016 Pac-12 All-Conference First Team honors after leading the league in scoring (20.9 ppg). The Portland, Oregon native spent 2016 training camp with the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in three preseason games.
Loving was undrafted in 2017. He played four seasons at Ohio State University, appearing in 134 games (86 starts) for head coach Thad Matta. For his career, Loving averaged 10.0 points on .419 shooting with 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.5 minutes for the Buckeyes. As a junior, he helped Ohio State reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, earning 2016 All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. Loving is a native of Toledo, Ohio.
Webb III spent the 2016-17 season with the Delaware 87ers of the NBA G League, appearing in 39 games (all starts) averaging 13.1 points on .447 shooting and 9.3 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per contest. The Augusta, Georgia native was on the Sixers 2016 training camp roster, appearing in six preseason games before joining the Sevens for the regular season. Webb III was undrafted 2016 after three standout seasons with the Boise State University basketball program where he was named Mountain West All-Conference First Team as a senior.