Tony Allen's next court date is Nov. 15

Lang, a 6-foot-10 rookie out of Central Park Christian High School in Alabama, played in six preseason games, averaging just under two points per game.

Nelson, a 6-foot-8 rookie from Utah State, played in five preseason games, averaging just over two points per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Point guard Lionel Chalmers was among three players waived by the Timberwolves, who reduced their roster to the regular-season limit of 15.

Another point guard, John Lucas, was let go, as was forward Ryan Humphrey. Lucas was an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma State. Humphrey, a first-round draft pick by the Utah Jazz in 2002, has played for the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies.

With Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson and defensive standout Anthony Carter, Chalmers found himself stuck at a crowded position. Chalmers, acquired in an August trade with Jaric for veteran point guard Sam Cassell, spent his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Also Thursday, All-Star Kevin Garnett returned to practice after missing Wednesday's preseason game against Chicago because of a sprained ankle. Coach Dwane Casey said he wasn't sure if Garnett would be ready to play in Friday's exhibition against Detroit in Rapid City, S.D.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers trimmed their roster to 16 by requesting waivers on guard Tony Bobbitt and center Adam Parada.

Teams have until Monday to finalize their opening-day roster at 15. The Lakers open the season Wednesday night at Denver.

Bobbitt, who averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in two games last year after signing with the Lakers on Dec. 6 for the remainder of the season. He played in seven preseason games this month, averaging 3.3 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.1 minutes.

Parada signed with the Lakers on Oct. 6 after most recently playing for the Huntsville Flight in the NBA Development League. He played a total of 28 minutes in six preseason games, getting eight points and four rebounds.

Denver Nuggets: Denver waived centers Eric Chenowith and Nigel Dixon and forwards Mark Pope and Theron Smith, trimming the roster ahead of next week's season-opener at San Antonio.

Pope, who played in 13 regular-season games for the Nuggets the past two seasons, average just 4.7 minutes per game in three preseason appearances this year. Chenowith averaged 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in five appearances.

Dixon grabbed 13 rebounds against Washington in one preseason game and average 6.5 boards during two preseason games. Smith played in two games, averaging 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 10-11 from the field.

Toronto Raptors: The Raptors released guard Corey Williams and center Toree Morris.

Williams, a New York streetball player, totaled 16 points and four assists in four preseason games.

Morris, who played at Pittsburgh, had six points and six rebounds in five exhibition games.

Washington Wizards: The Wizards used a fourth-year option Thursday on swingman Jarvis Hayes, keeping him under contract through the 2006-07 season.

The Wizards also settled on their 15-man opening day roster by releasing forward Hiram Fuller and guard Billy Thomas.

Hayes was the No. 10 overall pick from Georgia in 2003. He averaged 10.2 points last season, but missed the last 28 regular-season games and the playoffs with a fractured kneecap.

New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets waived guard Alex Garcia, moving one spot closer to finalizing their regular-season roster.

Garcia, who played in eight games and started three times for the Hornets last season, was signed as a free agent before the team's preseason camp this year. He was battling at a position that got even more crowded when the Hornets traded for swingman Desmond Mason on Wednesday.

Garcia's career has been plagued by injuries since San Antonio signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003. The 25-year-old suffered foot and knee injuries his first season in the league and played in only two games with the Spurs.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns extended the contracts of guards Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw, and lowered their preseason roster to 15 players by waiving rookie guard Anthony Lever-Pedroza.

The team exercised the fourth-year options on the rookie-scale contracts of Barbosa and Diaw. Both players will be under contract through at least the 2006-07 season, with the Suns holding the right of first refusal when the two become restricted free agents in summer 2007.

Barbosa, 22, has averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 133 games over two seasons with the Suns, including 52 starts.

Diaw, 23, was acquired from Atlanta in an Aug. 19 sign-and-trade deal that sent Joe Johnson to the Hawks. Diaw averaged 4.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 142 games (62 starts) in his first two seasons with Atlanta.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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