Blazers waive guards Van Exel and Anderson

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 4, 2005 | by Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Trail Blazers waived veteran guards Nick Van Exel and Derek Anderson on Wednesday.

The Blazers chose not to retain Van Exel for the last non- guaranteed year of his contract.

Van Exel averaged 10.7 points and 4.3 assists and made 39 starts last season before going on the injured list March 12 with left knee pain. The 12-year veteran was acquired in a 2004 offseason trade that sent forward Dale Davis and guard Dan Dickau to Golden State.

The 34-year-old Van Exel also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 15 points and 6.9 assists in his career.

Anderson will be designated as the team's amnesty player under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, allowing the Blazers to release him and remove his contract amount from the team's salary cap for purposes of calculating the luxury tax.

"Given the direction of the team and Derek's limited availability in recent years, we felt this was the best solution for all parties," Blazers general manager John Nash said. "This move gives us additional cap flexibility and minutes for our younger players."

Anderson, an eight-year NBA veteran, averaged 9.2 points with the Blazers last season but had a variety of injuries. The Blazers say they will honor the final two years of Anderson's contract, and he can sign with another team.

DOOLING SIGNS WITH MAGIC: The Orlando Magic signed free agent point guard Keyon Dooling on Wednesday.

Terms weren't disclosed, but Dooling said late last month the sides reached a three-year agreement worth nearly $10 million. He couldn't immediately sign because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement wasn't yet finalized.

The 25-year-old Dooling averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 assists in 16 minutes a game this past season with the Miami Heat, who used him solely as a reserve. He was particularly strong during the Heat's postseason run, averaging 7.3 points on nearly 50 percent shooting from the floor.

Orlando drafted Dooling at No. 10 overall in 2000, then traded his rights to the Los Angeles Clippers -- where he played for four seasons.

He signed a free-agent deal with Miami a year ago.

HAWKS SIGN BUCKS' CENTER: Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia signed a $16 million, four-year offer sheet with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Pachulia is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bucks have seven days to match the offer.

Pachulia, a two-year veteran, averaged 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Bucks as a backup last season. He spent his 2003- 04 rookie season with Orlando, where he played only 11 minutes per game, averaging 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. He was drafted by the Magic in the second round in 2003.

After his rookie season, Pachulia was selected by Charlotte in the 2004 expansion draft and then was acquired by the Bucks for a 2004 second-round draft choice.

Barring other trades or free-agent signings by the Hawks, the 6- foot-11, 240-pound Pachulia likely would be expected to start in Atlanta. The only center on the Hawks' roster is Jason Collier.

HORNETS RE-SIGN CHRIS ANDERSEN: Backup center Chris Andersen re- signed with the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday.

"One of our top priorities of the summer was to re-sign Chris due to the development of his overall game last season," Hornets general manager Allan Bristow said. "We're excited to see him continue that progress while still giving us the hustle, defense and rebounding that got him to where he is today."

The 6-foot-10 Andersen signed as a free agent before last season after spending three seasons with the Denver Nuggets. He played in 67 games for the last-place Hornets, averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds.