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OKC Thunder waive Mitch McGary, Ronnie Price, Chris Wright and Kaleb Tarczewski

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived forwards Mitch McGary and Chris Wright along with guard Ronnie Price and center Kaleb Tarczewski, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

McGary saw action in 52 games (two starts) during the past two seasons with Oklahoma City while recording averages of 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game.

Wright appeared in one preseason contest with the Thunder.

Price appeared in five preseason games with the Thunder and averaged 1.0 point, 2.0 assists and 1.20 steals in 13.6 minutes per game.

Tarczewski played in two preseason contests with Oklahoma City and registered averages of 2.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.00 block in 10.9 minutes per game.

Oklahoma City’s roster now stands at 15.

Lakers waive Yi Jianlian

Lakers waive Yi Jianlian

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today that they have waived forward/center Yi Jianlian, per the request of Yi and his agent.

“Yi was productive in practices and games with us, and was a consummate professional both on and off the court,” said General Manager Mitch Kupchak. “However, he felt that the minutes and opportunities he’d be afforded here were not in line with his goals and ambitions, and that he’d be better off in a different situation. We appreciate his efforts and wish him great success as he goes forward with his career.”

Yi, the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game over six contests with the Lakers this preseason.

The Lakers roster stands at 16.

Rockets waive Gary Payton II, P.J. Hairston and Le`Bryan Nash

The Houston Rockets have waived guard/forward P.J. Hairston, forward Le’Bryan Nash, and guard Gary Payton II, General Manager Daryl Morey announced today.

Hairston signed with the Rockets on Sept. 30 while Nash signed on Oct. 22. Payton II was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft and competed for the Rockets in the Samsung NBA Summer League and in this preseason.

Sixers sign Dionte Christmas

Sixers sign Dionte Christmas

The Philadelphia 76ers signed guard Dionte Christmas today.

Christmas appeared in 31 games for the Phoenix Suns during the 2013-14 season, where he posted averages of two points and one rebound in seven minutes per game. He also has seven seasons of experience internationally, most recently with Torku Konyaspor Basket of the Turkish Basketball Super League.

He was originally signed by Philadelphia in September of 2009 after participating in the Orlando Summer League as part of the Sixers’ combined team with the Brooklyn Nets.

Christmas had a stellar career at Temple University, where he averaged 16 points, four rebounds and two assists in four years, while becoming the first player to ever lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring for three consecutive seasons.

Trail Blazers exercise contract options on Noah Vonleh and Shabazz Napier

Trail Blazers exercise contract options on Noah Vonleh and Shabazz Napier

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the fourth-year contract options on forward Noah Vonleh and guard Shabazz Napier.

Vonleh, 21, posted averages of 3.6 points (42.1% FG, 74.5% FT), 3.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 15.1 minutes in 78 games (56 starts) last season with the Trail Blazers after being acquired from the Charlotte Hornets on June 24, 2015. Vonleh was the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Acquired on July 7 from the Orlando Magic in exchange for cash considerations, Napier, 24, has averaged 4.4 points (36.1% FG, 34.7% 3-PT, 76.2% FT), 1.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 15.2 minutes over two seasons with the Miami Heat and Orlando. Napier was originally selected as the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Pacers sign Ben Bentil

Pacers sign Ben Bentil

The Indiana Pacers have signed 6-9 free agent forward Ben Bentil to a contract.

Bentil, who played collegiately at Providence, was a second-round pick (51st overall) of the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft.

The Pacers this season are built around guards Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis and Rodney Stuckey, forwards Paul George and Thaddeus Young, and centers Myles Turner and Al Jefferson. George is the big star of the group.

Pelicans waive Alonzo Gee, keep Lance Stephenson

Pelicans waive Alonzo Gee, keep Lance Stephenson

The New Orleans Pelicans waived forward Alonzo Gee today, and confirmed that Lance Stephenson has made their regular season roster.

Gee, 6-6, 225, has appeared in 73 career games with New Orleans, averaging 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.4 minutes per game. Gee was originally signed by New Orleans on July 16, 2015.

Undrafted in 2009 out of the University of Alabama, Gee has appeared in 404 career regular season games with Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland, Denver, Portland and New Orleans, holding averages of 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 22.2 minutes per contest.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 15.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Tyus Jones

timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday exercised the third-year options on Tyus Jones and Karl-Anthony Towns, along with the fourth-year options on Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins.

Jones, 20, posted averages of 4.2 points and 2.9 assists in 15.5 minutes per contest in 37 games over his rookie season. The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-2 guard from the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 25, 2015.

LaVine, 21, owns career averages of 12.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 159 contests. The 6-5 guard tallied 14.0 ppg, on 45.2% shooting, including a 38.9% mark from three-point distance, a season ago. Minnesota drafted LaVine with the 13th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Towns, 20, averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last season on his way to being named 2016 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year. The Wolves selected the 7-0 forward/center with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Wiggins, 21, has averaged 18.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 163 career contests over two seasons with Minnesota. The 6-8 forward tallied averages of 20.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists a season ago. Wiggins, who was named the 2015 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year, was acquired by the Wolves via trade on August 23, 2014 after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by Cleveland.