Wolves trade for Dupree; waive Ebi

[Riot]

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale today announced the team has acquired forward Ronald Dupree from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. Additionally, the team waived forward Ndudi Ebi. The opening night roster now stands at 15 players.

"Ronald is a solid defensive player and we wanted to get another big defender at the small forward position," McHale said. "He is a guy that we have looked at in the past and we are glad that we were able to add him to the team."

Dupree, a 6-7, 209 pound product of Louisiana State University (1999-2000 - 2002-03), has averaged 4.7 points (.421 FG%), 2.8 rebounds and 14.5 minutes per game in 94 regular-season contests over two campaigns with the Chicago Bulls (2003-04) and Detroit (2004-05). He averaged 3.2 points (.480 FG%), 2.0 rebounds and 10.0 minutes per game in 47 contests with the Pistons in 2004-05 after signing with the team in July, 2004. Dupree scored a career-high 20 points on April 15 vs. Milwaukee, while hauling down a career-best eight rebounds in a season-high 30 minutes on Jan. 24 at Minnesota.

He was not selected in the 2003 NBA Draft, but signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Bulls on Jan. 7, 2004. He signed with Chicago for the remainder of the season on Jan. 28. Dupree averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.0 minutes per game in 47 contests as a rookie with Chicago, including eight starts. Dupree made his NBA debut on Jan. 7 and recorded team highs of 18 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. He posted 10-plus points on 11 occasions and grabbed 10-plus boards twice.

Ebi averaged 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.5 minutes per game in four preseason contests. He was originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (26th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. In two seasons in Minnesota, Ebi appeared in 19 contests averaging 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 4.5 minutes per game. He posted a career-high 18 points with a game-high eight rebounds (in 28 minutes) in the April 20 season finale vs. San Antonio.

"Ndudi is a hard-working young man who has NBA talent and a future in this league," said Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey. "He just needs an opportunity to play and be in game situations and unfortunately we don't have the luxury of giving him the minutes he needs at this time."

"Ronald is an experienced defender at both the shooting guard and small forward positions, and will back up Wally Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell," Casey said. "He gives us NBA experience that we need as our younger players develop."

The Timberwolves tip-off the 2005-06 campaign by hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be telecast on FSN North with Tom Hanneman and Jim Petersen calling the action and can be heard on KFAN AM 1130 with Chad Hartman and Billy McKinney.

Sopurce

Oh happy day! Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Its_asdf]

Ronald Dupree!!!

I was really hoping for Ebi to develop into a good player, but its obvious that he's no longer in Minnesota's plans.

I also like Ronald Dupree, he's big, athletic, and he's played for the Pistons so he's probably sharpened his defensive skills.

Hooray for Dupree.

[Led Zeppelin]

when did this happen? man Dupree was lookin really good in the pre season.

[maes]

Minny front office really getting things done, they're impressive. They've made so many changes to the team without losing KG and without ever going into a rebuilding mode.

[j.23]

weren't the wolves really high on ebi? wasn't he regarded as a junior version of garnett?

[air gordon]

that's too bad for ebi and a waste of 3yrs and a 1st round draft pick for Minny

i hope the bulls will take a flier on him but they already have enough youngsters on the roster

[Cable]

Dupree's a good player, good trade for Minny

[BOSS]

Good move. I knew the Pistons wouldnt use him cause they got Evans and etc.

Someone has to pick up Ebi. This kid can play.

When I saw this thread I knew Riot would be a happy man.

[Its_asdf]

I knew the Pistons wouldnt use him cause they got Evans and etc.

..Since when has Ebi ever been a Piston?

[Null17]

Guess they couldn't get the league to allow Ebi to play in the NBDL

[Riot]

Someone has to pick up Ebi. This kid can play.

Not really.

[Pross]

I knew the Pistons wouldnt use him cause they got Evans and etc.

..Since when has Ebi ever been a Piston?

I'm preeeeeeeeeeetty sure he was talking about Dupree.. use your brain a lil bit kiddo instead of making pointless posts

[galvatron3000]

Minny front office really getting things done, they're impressive. They've made so many changes to the team without losing KG and without ever going into a rebuilding mode.

when have they done anything impressive, & are they not in rebuilding mode now or are they in contention for the playoffs?

[BZ]

Lol @ Ebi... to think that couple years back he told Slam that he is the 2nd best HS player if not better than Lebron, in the whole nation. What a cocky idiot...

[J-Smoove]

he woulda done so much for AZ if he played 1 year there..

wasted opportunities. i was sayin to myself "dude, he got drafted AFTER travis outlaw!? what a steal!"

and now outlaw has become like this poor man's glyde (no 3 point shot) and ndudi a nothin hopin to get into the nbdl..

[The X]

that's too bad for ebi and a waste of 3yrs and a 1st round draft pick for Minny

i hope the bulls will take a flier on him but they already have enough youngsters on the roster

add William Avery to that list and you got a couple of bad 1st Rounders....all the other picks were lost with the Joe Smith deal....they did draft Loren Woods as a 2nd Round steal but let him go a year or so later....he's a solid big man and the T'wolves could use that....they traded for Dupree, but the fact is they had Maurice Evans on their team a few years back but cut him....T'wolves haven't been impressing anyone with their team managment of late....

[Matt]

good trade i guess. I like Dupree but he wasn't going to play much in Detroit anyway. Good for him, he should play in Minny a bit, and be of use.

Joe Dumars will probably make something useful of that draft pick too.

[Laxation]

funny, i was just reading on hoopshype.com that dupree might be traded to someone for a draft pick didnt know it would happen so soon

[Its_asdf]

they did draft Loren Woods as a 2nd Round steal but let him go a year or so later....he's a solid big man and the T'wolves could use that...

Not exactly. Woods hasn't been able to do much of anything when he's on the court. He's long frame makes him somewhat of a defensive presence, but he's not very effective at that end either.

[Riot]

The reason why the Wolves let Woods go is because he has an awful work ethic and is un-responsible. Bad teammate.

[maes]

when have they done anything impressive, & are they not in rebuilding mode now or are they in contention for the playoffs?

They added Sam Cassell & Sprewell for Terrell Brandon & Joe Smith, that was a killer move. The team improved to a 58 win team and were 1 Cassell injury from going to the Finals.

When money got in the way of a good team and destroyed all the chemistry, Minny didn't even pay the penalty. Cassell got shipped out in return for a 6' 7" PG with a 3.09 APT ratio (higher than Terry, Hinrich, or Baron Davis) and shoots .371 from the 3 point line, their 3 point specialist Wallyworld shot .373 last year.

I don't see how you can call a team that won 44 games and barely missed the playoffs in rebuilding mode. Rebuilding mode is winning 15 games the high point of your season is the Draft.

They'll do considerably better this year with a pass-first distributor at PG.

[Riot]

If Jaric can stay healthy. The kid can play, no doubt, but he has had some injury problems over his short career.

[Rip32]

You T-wolve fans got a good hustle player in Dupe. He has a real good slashing and dunking game, His shot has been dead on from 19ft this preseason and hes a nice defensive stopper off the bench. Ill miss Super Dupe, Hope he does good in Minny.