Timberwolves waive West in salary cap manoeuvring
Yesterday the Minnesota Timberwolves took practical and financial measures and waived guard Delonte West, whom they recently acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The move is being regarded mainly as an effective salary cap measure, despite West being known as an NBA liability due to off-court legal issues that have plagued much of his recent career.
In the acquisition of West, the Wolves sent point guard Ramon Sessions and center Ryan Hollins to the Cavs for West and point guard Sebastian Telfair. With the waive, West will receive only $500,000 of the $4.6 million of his contract, and is a free agent who may sign with another team.
Telfair, who played for the Wolves from 2007-09, remains on the Wolves roster. He is likely to be used in the absence of point guard Johnny Flynn, who is out recovering from hip surgery. Flynn is expected to miss at least a month of regular season play.
Delonte West has been no stranger to controversy in the NBA, despite a successful college career and a three year run with the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he gained valuable confidence and form and helped led the team the their two most successful regular seasons. He is known as a legitimate clutch player who often shines in the playoffs. A good example of this is the 2009 playoffs, where he increased his shooting and output to almost 14 points per game.
In September of 2009 West was pulled over for a traffic violation and was found to have three guns in a guitar case on his three wheel motorcycle. He was arrested and on 15 July pleaded guilty to the traffic and weapon charges.
There have also been allegations, made by Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, among others, that Delonte West had an affair with LeBron James’ mother Gloria, and that the incident resulted in James’ terrible playoff run against the Celtics.
Murphy told an ESPN Radio station: "Unfortunately, my sources in the NBA tell me that it's absolutely true. My sources, and they're legit, tell me that the only people that didn't know it was happening was LeBron and me."
Whatever the case, the combination of legal troubles, off-court antics and salary cap woes were all enough to let West go.
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