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Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has waived center Chris Alexander and guard Derrick Byars.
Alexander averaged 1.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.0 minutes in four preseason games while Byars averaged 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 14.8 minutes in four preseason contests.
The Thunder roster now stands at 15.
The AP reports: Harry Mangurian Jr., a former owner of the Boston Celtics and renowned horse breeder, has died of leukemia. He was 82… Mangurian owned the Celtics from 1979-83, a tenure that included a championship in 1981 and the signings of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the original “Big Three” of team lore.
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forwards DerMarr Johnson and Linton Johnson. DerMarr Johnson appeared in five preseason games for Washington and averaged 8.8 points in 19.6 minutes per game. Linton Johnson appeared in four preseason games as a Wizard and averaged 1.3 points in 12.8 minutes per game. Both players originally signed with Washington on September 22, 2008.
The Wizards roster now stands at 15.
Washington will be without star point guard Gilbert Arenas for a few months and role-playing center Brendan Haywood for most of the season. But fortunately, star forward Antawn Jamison should be healthy soon and OK for the start of the regular season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on guard Brandon Heath, it was announced today.
Heath, a 6-3 guard out of San Diego State spent last season playing in France for Entente Orleans 45 where he averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25 games. In five preseason games with the Lakers, Heath averaged 1.4 points in 8.6 minutes.
The Lakers preseason roster now stands at 17.
Los Angeles Clippers point guard Baron Davis underwent an examination today by Dr. Roy Meals, a hand specialist with the UCLA Medical Group. The examination revealed that Davis had sustained a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left ring finger. The injury does not require surgery and is expected to heal on its own. Davis will wear a splint and is expected to resume all basketball activities in one week.
Davis was originally diagnosed with a sprained left ring finger after falling on his hand during practice at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on Friday, October 17th. X-rays taken after the injury occurred were negative and a subsequent MRI revealed results that were inconclusive, leading to today’s follow up examination.
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that they have waived guard Vernon Hamilton. Hamilton played in four games during the Cavaliers current preseason, averaging 0.8 points, 0.8 assists and 1.0 rebound in 6.8 minutes per game.
The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Brent Petway, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
Petway, who signed on Sept. 29, appeared in one preseason game at Houston on Oct. 7, recording two points and one rebound in four minutes.
An updated preseason roster is attached. The current roster stands at 14 players.
The Grizzlies will play their final two preseason games vs. the Miami Heat at 6:30 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at AmericanAirlines Arena and vs. the Orlando Magic at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at AMWAY Arena.
The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams, who injured his left ankle at the 5:39 mark of the first quarter of Saturday night’s preseason game at Chicago.
As a result of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing conducted on Williams’ ankle earlier today, Jazz team physician Dr. Lyle Mason has determined that Williams suffered a second degree inversion sprain. The MRI also showed all bone structure and tendons in and around the ankle to be normal.
The time frame for Williams’ return to action is a minimum of two weeks.
Originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (third overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams has appeared in 242 of a possible 246 regular season games and all 29 playoff games in his first three NBA seasons, posting career averages of 15.3 points and 8.1 assists in 34.4 minutes per game. Williams started all 82 games for the Jazz in 2007-08, averaging 18.8 points and 10.5 assists in 37.3 minutes per game. He became only the third player in NBA history to total 1500+ points and 800+ assists while shooting .500+ in a single season (Kevin Johnson, Magic Johnson) and was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team.
The Miami HEAT announced that forward James Jones underwent successful surgery on Saturday, October 18th to repair a ruptured extensor tendon in his right wrist. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ann Ouellette and consulted by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. Jones is expected to be out three months.
Jones was signed by the HEAT as a free agent on July 9.
Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has waived Antywane Robinson. He appeared in three preseason games for the Sixers, playing a total of 15 minutes. The roster now stands at 15.
Robinson (6-8, 220) played all four seasons at Temple University, earning Atlantic-10 All-Conference Second Team honors his senior season. In 116 career games played for the Owls, he had 85 steals to 54 turnovers. He has yet to appear in a regular season game since going undrafted in 2006, but played preseason games for the Atlanta Hawks in 2007. After being waived by the Hawks, Robinson joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League before playing overseas for Elan Bearnais Pau-Orthez of the French League.
InsideHoops.com editor says: The guy’s first name is Antywane?!?