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Rockets sign Akeem Richmond, waive Geron Johnson

Rockets sign Akeem Richmond, waive Geron Johnson

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Akeem Richmond as a free agent and requested waivers on Geron Johnson.

Richmond (6-0, 180, East Carolina), an undrafted free agent in the 2014 NBA Draft spent the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons at East Carolina after transferring from Rhode Island following his sophomore year. Richmond appeared in 139 contests over the course of his NCAA career (61 starts) averaging 11.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 25.3 minutes played. In his senior season, the point guard was named to the 2014 All-Conference USA Second Team.

Johnson (6-3, 203, Memphis), appeared in 67 contests at Memphis University holding career averages of 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 28.3 minutes. Johnson was signed on October 24, 2014 and did not appear in any preseason games for the Rockets.

Cavs waive Shane Edwards

Cavs waive Shane Edwards

The Cleveland Cavaliers waived forward Shane Edwards today, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced.

This move brings the Cavs roster down to 15, which means they don’t have to cut any more players if they don’t want to as the regular season begins this Tuesday.

Edwards appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.

The Cavs in 2014-15 are stacked with a revamped roster that includes new additions LeBron James, Kevin Love, Shawn Marion, Mike Miller and others joining Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters and friends, and on paper look like a serious contender coming out of the East.

Suns waive Earl Barron

Suns waive Earl Barron

The Phoenix Suns have waived center Earl Barron.

A seven-year NBA veteran and considered fairly solid as backup who provides bench depth, Barron signed with the Suns on Sept. 26. In six preseason appearances, Barron averaged 3.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 15 players.

Knicks waive Langston Galloway and Jordan Vandenberg

Knicks waive Langston Galloway and Jordan Vandenberg

The New York Knicks have waived guard Langston Galloway and center Jordan Vandenberg, team President Phil Jackson announced today.

Galloway, who in InsideHoops.com’s opinion has one of the best names in the league, at 6-2, 200-pounds, was signed on Sep. 9 and averaged 3.0 points and 1.0 assists over 6.1 minutes in three preseason games.

Vandenberg, 7-1, 245-pounds, signed as a free agent on Oct. 23 and did not appear in a preseason game.

NBA preseaon ended Friday, and the regular season begins Tuesday. Teams around the league are cutting players — mostly guys who were signed to non-guaranteed contracts — to get down to the NBA roster maximum of 15.

Clippers waive Joe Ingles

Clippers waive Joe Ingles

The Los Angeles Clippers have waived forward Joe Ingles, the team announced today. Ingles has talent, but the team’s roster was simply too crowded to keep him.

Originally signed on September 22, 2014, Ingles appeared in five preseason games (one start), averaging 1.2 points and 1.0 rebounds.

The Clippers roster now stands at 15, the maximum allowed in the regular season, which begins this coming Tuesday.

Timberwolves waive Brady Heslip

Timberwolves waive Brady Heslip

The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard Brady Heslip today, bringing the team roster down to 16 players. The regular season starts Tuesday, and the maximum number of players a team can have on their roster is 15, so at least one more cut is coming.

Heslip, 24, appeared in four preseason games for the Wolves, tallying five points, two steals and one rebound in nine minutes of play. The 6-2 guard saw action in five games (two starts) for the Wolves entry in 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, shooting 61.1% from the field and 70.0% from three-point range. Heslip wrapped up his college career at Baylor as the best shooter in school history as well as one of the best shooters in Big 12 history, finishing his career with 1140 career points (20th in school history) and his 43.7% three-point percentage was the highest in school history and third-best in Big 12 history.

The Wolves begin their 26th NBA season this Wednesday, October 29, playing on the road in Memphis against the Grizzlies. The Timberwolves home opener will be the following night, Thursday, October 30, vs. the Detroit Pistons.

Cavs exercise contract option on Dion Waiters

Cavaliers exercise contract option on Dion Waiters

As expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers exercised their fourth-year contract option on guard Dion Waiters, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Waiters, a shooting guard who must now adjust to having LeBron James and Kevin Love as teammates, has NBA career averages of 15.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.2 minutes per game in 131 games (72 starts) in two seasons, both with the Cavaliers.

The Cavs look on paper like a championship contender for 2014-15. They should be exciting to watch, and Waiters has a key role on the team.

Wizards waive Damion James, John Lucas, Xavier Silas

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived forward Damion James and guards John Lucas and Xavier Silas.

NBA preseason ended Friday, and the regular season begins Tuesday, October 28. The maximum number of players teams are allowed to have on their regular season roster is 15, and that’s how many the Wizards have after today’s move.

The Wizards have lots of potential for a solid season on paper, though they will begin their 2014-15 campaign while shooting guard Bradley Beal heals from injury.

Kings waive Trey Johnson

The Sacramento Kings today waived guard Trey Johnson, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro. The Kings roster now stands at 14 players.

Johnson, a 6-5 guard, appeared in four exhibition games for Sacramento, totaling eight points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds and one assist in 12 minutes off the bench.

Mavericks waive Bernard James, Ivan Johnson, Doron Lamb

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that the team has requested waivers on center Bernard James, forward Ivan Johnson and guard Doron Lamb.

With NBA preseason now over and the regular season starting Tuesday, all teams are trimming their rosters.

James (6-10, 235) spent the past two seasons (2012-14) in Dallas and averaged 2.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 7.9 minutes in 76 career regular-season games (11 starts). He appeared in five preseason games for the Mavericks this year and averaged 2.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 12.2 minutes.

Johnson (6-8, 255) averaged 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 8.9 minutes in four games (one start) for Dallas this exhibition season.

Lamb (6-4, 200) played in five preseason games for Dallas in 2014 and averaged 3.4 points in 9.3 minutes.

The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 15.