Wolves waive Stiemsma, Gelabale

It shouldn't surprise anybody but...

The Wolves this afternoon officialy waived center Greg Stiemsma and swingman Mickael Gelabale.

Both moves are essentially official bookkeeping that will allow the Wolves to make other moves once the NBA moratorium ends July 10 and teams can sign players and complete trades.

By doing so, the Wolves won't be allowed to include either player's salary to help make a trade work, but Stiemsma's agent said there's still the chance his client will return to the Wolves.

"We'll see what happens, there so many different variables right now with teams and their cap space," agent Mark Bartelstein said. "This was a cap move. They (Wolves) like him. We'll get through this (the NBA moratorium that goes until July 10) and see what happens."

Stiemsma has been in Minnesota working out recently, hoping to be part of the team's future.

The Wolves had until July 17 to either waive Stiemsma or fully guarantee his $2.5 million contract for next season.

The contract that Gelabale signed for the rest of the season last winter ran through the third week of July but the Wolves officially ended it today.

Both players were signed by former president of basketball operations David Kahn, who also signed Chris Johnson to a fully guaranteed contract for next season before Kahn's contract expired, wasn't renewed and he was replaced by Flip Saunders.

Stiemsma played in 76 games last season, averaging 4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.9 games.