Suns sign Dejan Koturovic

Dejan Koturovic

Phoenix, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2003 (AP) - The Phoenix Suns signed center Dejan Koturovic and waived two players Wednesday, reducing their training camp roster to 18.

The 7-foot Koturovic played on the Yugoslavian national team with Zarko Cabarkapa, the Suns' first-round pick in this year's draft. Yugoslavia won the gold medal at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis.

With Cabarkapa out after hernia surgery Friday, the Suns needed help in the middle and turned to the 31-year-old Koturovic, a veteran of 13 international seasons in Yugoslavia, France, Turkey, Germany and Italy.

He became available because Virtus Bologna, his Euroleague team last season, defaulted on its bills, voiding his contract.

Koturovic averaged 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks with Virtus Bologna last season.

The Suns waived guard Trevor Huffman and forward William Pippen.