NBA News Blog – Page 821 – NBA Blog

Washington Wizards waive Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guards Shannon Brown, Malcolm Lee and Kendall Marshall. The trio was acquired from Phoenix, along with center Marcin Gortat, in exchange for center Emeka Okafor and a 2014 protected first round draft pick.

Brown has averaged 8.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 374 career games with Cleveland, Chicago, L.A. Lakers, Charlotte and Phoenix. Lee has averaged 4.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 35 career games with Minnesota before being traded to Phoenix last summer. Marshall averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 assists during his rookie season with Phoenix last year.

The Wizards roster now stands at 15.

San Antonio Spurs exercise contract options on Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have exercised their fourth-year options on forward Kawhi Leonard and guard Cory Joseph. Both players are now signed through the 2014-15 season.

In two seasons with the Spurs, Leonard has appeared in 122 games, averaging 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.49 steals in 32.8 minutes. In 35 career playoff games, the California native has averaged 11.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.54 steals in 33.0 minutes. Leonard joined the Spurs in a 2011 draft night deal that saw the Silver and Black send George Hill to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Leonard’s rights, along with the rights to Davis Bertans and Erazem Lorbek.

Now entering his third season in San Antonio, Joseph has averaged 3.2 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 11.5 minutes in a total of 57 games during his first two NBA campaigns. The University of Texas product was drafted by San Antonio with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Houston Rockets waive Marcus Camby and Reggie Williams

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced that the team has waived center Marcus Camby (as of Oct. 27) and guard Reggie Williams, which brings the Rockets roster down to 15 players.

Camby has had lingering injury problems, and it doesn’t appear he’ll be able to help any NBA team in the near future. It’ll be interesting to see if he tries to keep playing, or calls it a career.

Pacers forward Danny Granger out 3 weeks

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger will miss approximately three weeks as he rehabilitates a strained left calf injury sustained in the preseason.The length of time is a precautionary measure as the team wants to ensure Granger is physically ready to play in light of missing all but five games last season due to his knee injury. The rehabilitation time is strictly related to the calf injury.

Hopefully Granger finally returns for the Pacers and is able to contribute regularly from that point on.

According to the Pacers.com blog, “What we know for sure now is that Lance Stephenson will start for the immediate future, and probably for the rest of the season. Coach Frank Vogel stated early in training camp that Granger would start if healthy. More recently, he said Granger would be given starting opportunities once healthy to see how it worked. Given the uncertainty of Granger’s availability, Vogel might decide to stick with Granger in a reserve role, where any uncertainty surrounding him would have less impact. If the Pacers open the season well with Stephenson in the starting lineup, why change?”

Philadelphia 76ers waive Rodney Williams and Gani Lawal

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they waived the contracts of guard Rodney Williams and forward Gani Lawal.

The NBA regular season starts Tuesday night, and teams around the league must trim their rosters to 15 players or less. So, lots of players signed to non-guaranteed or low-paying contracts are being let go.

Miami Heat waive Eric Griffin and Justin Hamilton

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived forward Eric Griffin and center Justin Hamilton.

Griffin, who was signed by as a free agent in September, appeared in seven games with the Heat this preseason and averaged 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 6.1 minutes.

Hamilton, who was acquired by the Heat in a draft night trade in 2012, appeared in five games and averaged 2.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 5.6 minutes.

The Heat’s roster now stands at 15.

Dallas Mavericks waive guard Mickey McConnell

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have requested waivers on guard Mickey McConnell.

McConnell (6-0, 190) saw action in five preseason games for the Mavericks and averaged 1.8 points and 1.4 assists in 8.7 minutes per contest.

The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 15.

The Mavericks open the 2013-14 regular season against Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Denver Nuggets waive Damion James

The Denver Nuggets reduced their roster to 15 players by waiving forward Damion James, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.

James, signed as a non-roster invitee, averaged 3.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in seven preseason games for Denver. He went 8-for-23 from the field.

The Nuggets open the regular season Oct. 30 at Sacramento.

Clippers waive Lou Amundson

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived forward Lou Amundson. The Clippers roster now stands at 14 players.

Amundson appeared in seven preseason games (one start) for the Clippers, averaging 1.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.9 minutes of action.

Amundson has appeared in 327 career games (seven starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Hornets. The 6”9”, 225-pound forward finished last season with the Hornets, averaging 2.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18 games.

Phoenix Suns exercise contract options on Morris twins and Miles Plumlee

The Phoenix Suns exercised their 2014-15 options on forwards Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris and center Miles Plumlee, the club announced today.

In two seasons with the Suns, Markieff Morris has averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 145 games. The 13th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, he closed the 2012-13 season strongly as he averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in April, the best scoring and rebounding month of his young career.

Marcus Morris joined the Suns in a midseason trade with Houston and averaged 5.7 points in 23 games with Phoenix last season. Originally the 14th overall pick of the 2011 draft, he led the Suns with an average of 14.3 points in seven contests at the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League.

Plumlee played his rookie season with Indiana before being acquired by the Suns in a trade with the Pacers this past summer. In seven contests with the Suns this preseason, Plumlee averaged 6.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.14 blocks in 18.5 minutes per game.