Phoenix, UNITED STATES, October 24, 2003 (Phoenix Suns' official website) - The Suns made their final cuts this morning when they waived center Dejan Koturovic, center/forward Nick Sheppard and guard Ray Weathers. The Suns' roster now stands at 14 players, all with guaranteed contracts. NBA teams must finalize their 12-man rosters by 3 p.m. local time Monday.
Koturovic appeared in three preseason games and averaged 1.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.0 minutes. Sheppard played in seven games and averaged 1.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12.0 minutes, while Weathers appeared in five games and averaged 0.6 points and 0.6 rebounds in 6.6 minutes.
"I don't know if any of those guys were really ready to play in the league," Head Coach Frank Johnson said. "We have enough guys we've got to teach to learn the game and there just wasn't enough time for them. None of them really had any NBA experience, so you had to spend time teaching them. There are a number of young guys who have played for us with NBA experience that we've got to teach, as well."
Koturovic, a 7-footer, had the most professional experience of the free agents that attended training camp. The 31-year-old played for 13 seasons internationally, including stops in Yugoslavia, France, Turkey, Germany and Italy, experience that Johnson thinks may have worked to his disadvantage.
"I think once you stay over there for an extended period of time for the European players," Johnson said, "you're kind of in that mindset and that mode. It's tough to come over here and adjust. That's why if you have a chance to get the European players younger, then you can mold them into the NBA style of basketball."
Despite his disappointment at not making the club, Koturovic was grateful for the opportunity and went out of his way to thank the organization for the chance to play with an NBA team, if only for a short period of time.
"He came down (to the practice court) and thanked all the players and thanked all the coaches," Johnson said. "Because he was coming down I was thinking, 'Did he not understand me?' But he came down to thank all the players and coaches."
