ducks
10-31-2005, 09:09 AM
Wolves decide to keep Ebi
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
The Timberwolves released point guards Lionel Chalmers and John Lucas along with forward Ryan Humphrey to meet the NBA's waiver deadline Thursday.
In a somewhat surprising move, the organization spared Ndudi Ebi.
The cuts mean the Wolves have reduced their roster to 15 players, the league maximum for the regular season, which starts Wednesday for Minnesota.
Coach Dwane Casey said the cuts were a "unified call" by team officials and that the decisions were not easy. Economics and a logjam at point guard played a role in the fates of Ebi, Lucas and Chalmers.
Ebi was a candidate to be waived because he has not developed as the team hoped he would when it drafted him in the first round (26th overall) in 2003.
Casey has said Ebi, 21, has much to learn about the angles to take on the court, the timing of when to move and proper positioning.
"There's a learning curve definitely involved," general manager Jim Stack said. "(Ebi's) still thinking through a lot of things where he can't just play free and instinctively. That's definitely part of it."
Ebi's on-court decision making has been shaky.
"He's playing two positions," Stack said. "He's kind of a combination forward. The (power forward's) job is vastly different from the (small forward's) job. He's got to incorporate both those jobs. That's a lot to learn, and he's a young kid and hasn't had the playing experience."
Stack said Ebi has worked hard since entering the NBA straight out of high school in Texas. In his first two seasons, he played just 86 minutes over 19 games. This preseason, he is averaging 3.3 minutes a game, the fewest on the team.
"The question for him is, can he get out on the floor and get minutes?" Stack said. "That's the only way he's going to really improve."
That's why the Wolves recently petitioned the NBA to allow Ebi to play in the NBA Development League. That request was denied because the collective bargaining agreement prohibits players with more than two years of service from playing in the developmental league.
The fact Ebi has a guaranteed contract worth $803,600 for 2005-06 wasn't the only reason he was kept on the roster, Stack and Casey said. But it certainly played a role. Had the Wolves waived Ebi, they would have owed him that money. And had the team filled his spot on the roster with another player, the Wolves would have had to pay the league minimum of about $400,000 to that player as well.
The Wolves still must decide whether to pick up Ebi's contract option for 2006-07. At a price of $1.45 million, it is doubtful.
Chalmers and Lucas were victims of a numbers game. They fought to become the fourth point guard on the roster. They didn't win a job over second-round draft pick Bracey Wright, who's the most versatile of the three.
The Wolves already have three point guards who should contribute: Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson and Anthony Carter.
"Really, a fourth point guard is almost a luxury," Casey said.
Lucas was the last cut, with Chalmers and Humphrey being given the news earlier Thursday. At the end of practice, Lucas was called into a meeting room with Casey, Stack and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale. Casey had a particular affection for Lucas.
"I think he has NBA speed and quickness, and hopefully some day down the road, we can bring him back," Casey said. "He can be an Earl Boykins type."
Casey said he thought Lucas and Chalmers needed to improve their abilities to run a team's offense and that Humphrey should improve his perimeter game.
For the players on the bubble who did make the roster, there are no guarantees they will remain with the team throughout the season.
Asked if Ebi would be on the team for the rest of 2005-06, Stack said: "That's too hard to project right now."
Stack and Casey said they would continue to monitor the waiver wire and listen to trade offers that might improve the team.
Minnesota probably will keep 13 players and designate two others — Wright and Dwayne Jones — to the development league. Stack said there's no deadline to designate players for assignment, but the development league's training camp starts in about a week.
It remains to be seen how much Wright and Jones would play in the developmental league. Players can be sent down up to three times a season, but there's no limit on the time they can spend there.
Garnett practices: Kevin Garnett (sprained left ankle) returned to practice. He still had some soreness, Casey said, and his status was uncertain for tonight's final exhibition game. The Wolves carry a 3-4 preseason record into the game against the Detroit Pistons in Rapid City, S.D.
Rick Alonzo covers the Timberwolves and the NBA. He can be reached at [email protected]
BY RICK ALONZO
Pioneer Press
The Timberwolves released point guards Lionel Chalmers and John Lucas along with forward Ryan Humphrey to meet the NBA's waiver deadline Thursday.
In a somewhat surprising move, the organization spared Ndudi Ebi.
The cuts mean the Wolves have reduced their roster to 15 players, the league maximum for the regular season, which starts Wednesday for Minnesota.
Coach Dwane Casey said the cuts were a "unified call" by team officials and that the decisions were not easy. Economics and a logjam at point guard played a role in the fates of Ebi, Lucas and Chalmers.
Ebi was a candidate to be waived because he has not developed as the team hoped he would when it drafted him in the first round (26th overall) in 2003.
Casey has said Ebi, 21, has much to learn about the angles to take on the court, the timing of when to move and proper positioning.
"There's a learning curve definitely involved," general manager Jim Stack said. "(Ebi's) still thinking through a lot of things where he can't just play free and instinctively. That's definitely part of it."
Ebi's on-court decision making has been shaky.
"He's playing two positions," Stack said. "He's kind of a combination forward. The (power forward's) job is vastly different from the (small forward's) job. He's got to incorporate both those jobs. That's a lot to learn, and he's a young kid and hasn't had the playing experience."
Stack said Ebi has worked hard since entering the NBA straight out of high school in Texas. In his first two seasons, he played just 86 minutes over 19 games. This preseason, he is averaging 3.3 minutes a game, the fewest on the team.
"The question for him is, can he get out on the floor and get minutes?" Stack said. "That's the only way he's going to really improve."
That's why the Wolves recently petitioned the NBA to allow Ebi to play in the NBA Development League. That request was denied because the collective bargaining agreement prohibits players with more than two years of service from playing in the developmental league.
The fact Ebi has a guaranteed contract worth $803,600 for 2005-06 wasn't the only reason he was kept on the roster, Stack and Casey said. But it certainly played a role. Had the Wolves waived Ebi, they would have owed him that money. And had the team filled his spot on the roster with another player, the Wolves would have had to pay the league minimum of about $400,000 to that player as well.
The Wolves still must decide whether to pick up Ebi's contract option for 2006-07. At a price of $1.45 million, it is doubtful.
Chalmers and Lucas were victims of a numbers game. They fought to become the fourth point guard on the roster. They didn't win a job over second-round draft pick Bracey Wright, who's the most versatile of the three.
The Wolves already have three point guards who should contribute: Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson and Anthony Carter.
"Really, a fourth point guard is almost a luxury," Casey said.
Lucas was the last cut, with Chalmers and Humphrey being given the news earlier Thursday. At the end of practice, Lucas was called into a meeting room with Casey, Stack and vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale. Casey had a particular affection for Lucas.
"I think he has NBA speed and quickness, and hopefully some day down the road, we can bring him back," Casey said. "He can be an Earl Boykins type."
Casey said he thought Lucas and Chalmers needed to improve their abilities to run a team's offense and that Humphrey should improve his perimeter game.
For the players on the bubble who did make the roster, there are no guarantees they will remain with the team throughout the season.
Asked if Ebi would be on the team for the rest of 2005-06, Stack said: "That's too hard to project right now."
Stack and Casey said they would continue to monitor the waiver wire and listen to trade offers that might improve the team.
Minnesota probably will keep 13 players and designate two others — Wright and Dwayne Jones — to the development league. Stack said there's no deadline to designate players for assignment, but the development league's training camp starts in about a week.
It remains to be seen how much Wright and Jones would play in the developmental league. Players can be sent down up to three times a season, but there's no limit on the time they can spend there.
Garnett practices: Kevin Garnett (sprained left ankle) returned to practice. He still had some soreness, Casey said, and his status was uncertain for tonight's final exhibition game. The Wolves carry a 3-4 preseason record into the game against the Detroit Pistons in Rapid City, S.D.
Rick Alonzo covers the Timberwolves and the NBA. He can be reached at [email protected]