Squeaky Johnson and DaJuan Summer have been waived by the Hornets.
The New Orleans Hornets have waived Squeaky Johnson and DaJuan Summers according to Ken Berger from CBS Sports. If either player remained on the roster past today, their contracts would have become guaranteed. Both players are eligible to be brought back to the team under a different contact. I understand the move from a business standpoint, but I’m sure that doesn’t make Squeaky or DaJuan feel any better.
What this means for the Hornets in the short term is that Xavier Henry, Greivis Vasquez, and Al-Farouz Aminu will likely be playing more minutes. Monty actually did say today at practice that when Jack comes back (presumably tomorrow since he was working out today), he and Vasquez will split time at point and play together a little bit as well.
Johnson appeared in 15 games for the Hornets this season, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 assists in 7.9 minutes. The University of Alabama-Birmingham product has appeared in 195 career games (102 starts) with the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League since 2007, averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 assists. In four games this season with Austin, he averaged 14.8 points and 4.8 assists. The New Orleans native appeared in 46 games (all starts) for the Toros last season, averaging 12.3 points and a career-high 6.0 assists.
Summers appeared in 15 games (six starts) with the Hornets this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes of play. Summers was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (35th overall) by the Detroit Pistons. In 81 career games (six starts) he has averages of 3.4 points and 1.0 rebounds in 10.0 minutes with Detroit and New Orleans. The Georgetown product signed with Montepaschi Siena in Italy in July of 2011, but parted ways with the team in October after averaging 4.0 points in four games with the team.
28 responses to “Hornets Waive Squeaky Johnson, DaJuan Summers”
So why did these guys get so much time? To give them a chance to earn their contract. Not tanking, not idiocy, just due diligence on the part of the team, along with fiscal responsibility and respect for the players involved.
Class.
(posted the same over at hornetsreport.com too)
Whatever. I’m all about the Hornets, but this is bullshit. I bit my tongue when they sent Kaman away. I’ve embraced the (secret) tank job. But they’ve given away something in Sqeaky that they’ll never be able to teach Jack. Heart, and unselfishness. A passion to see his team do well, and not just his statline. Make no mistake about it, Jarret Jack is the heart of this tank job…he just doesn’t know it. It’s why I haven’t minded seeing the ball in his hands when the game is on the line…I’m all about the #1 pick. But to send Squeaky away while he does it, carrying him over into next season when we’re actually good, while Squeaky struggles in the D Leagues again…I don’t know if I’ll be in. This maybe the icing on the cake for me, even though most may think it’s trivial. And that’s coming from a fan with $1,000’s of dollars of Hornets memerobelia in his office. Really f&@!ing bu!!$&t Hornets.
You’re right… Definitely feel like it’s trivial that you’re so mad over this… He’ll probably be back…
Admittedly, this makes me sound like an ass after reading what I wrote. Apologies
This may sound weird, but I really do think that doing Squeaky a solid and giving him the full year’s salary would have bought the team a bit of good will in a season that’s left a lot of fans less than fully satisfied.
I’ll probably write about that tomorrow.
I agree, but there are two things that hold me back from saying “Dudewhatthe$-*&”
That’s an owner call
What if we need those spots for deals
Although it may hurt support for the Hornets its probably the best for Squeaky. He will get to go back to the D-League and get more minutes and improve his game. Look for him to be back in a Hornets uniform by the end of the season after the Hornets make some moves.
I am heart broken. . .
I understand the decision, but I can’t help but notice that the hornets have quite a way with fan favorites. Thornton, Kaman, Squeaky… I guess if the fans like you, you’re as good as gone!!!
Uhh….Squeaky is horrible. Take a chill pill man He is arguably the worst player on the worst team in the league. Only our starting sg is as bad as squeaky.
You’re basketball IQ, if not IQ in general, is clearly lower then what the Hornets score 4th quarter with JJ on the floor. You clearly know nothing.
Squeaky is a nice story…
Talented guy…
Fan favorite… Sure…
But he is a fringe NBA talent….
There are only a few rosters he could have made…
And he did nothing to secure a spot, he didn’t wow anyone…
He belongs in the DL or overseas…
I wish him the best, but he simply isn’t worth all that commotion as a player in the NBA…
“You’re” pessimism is unnecessary. If you’re going to blast someone else on the basis of intelligence, then at least make sure your spelling is adequate. You also used “then” when you should have used “than.” I’m not trying to be a jerk here, but I hate when people dismiss other people’s opinions in such a derogatory fashion.
Squeaky was a great story, but we all saw this coming. I’m glad he got his shot, and I’m sure he will remember this experience for a long time
This honestly makes no difference to me…
I see Xavier picking up more minutes…
And I think Vazquez should get the bulk of the minutes at PG…
And MOST IMPORTANTLY.. my eyes read 2 waived… My mind reads TRADE LOOMING….
Their deals were going to become guaranteed if they were on the team Friday at some point. Waiving them today makes sure they can clear waivers by Friday. I’ll try to find examples on other teams.
This certainly would facilitate a trade if one was looming, and one may be, but this isn’t exactly an unambiguous signal of one.
http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2012/2/7/2783040/miami-heat-waive-rookie-center-mickell-gladness
Heat waived a guy.
http://projectspurs.com/2012-articles/february/spurs-place-on-waivers-thomas.html
Spurs, too.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/02/adrien-goes-from-player-of-the-game-to-waived-on-the-move-the-timing-and-the-player-the-rockets-get-instead/
Rockets, to make room for a center . . . hardball, or the deal is off?
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21175516/stiemsma-survives-waiver-deadline
A refernce to the `in advance’ deadline.
So we should expect them back on 10 day deals in the near future…
But even then, we can only sign them to 2 or 3 10 day deals before we have to sign them for the season…
Either way, this makes no difference to me… Squeaky and Summers affiliation with the team(here or not) makes no difference to the direction or competitive of the team this year or going forward… Unless a player benefitting from their absence (a la X4) suddenly unleashes all that pent up potential on the league with more playing time… Highly unlikely… But marginally possible…
Otherwise this move is inconsequential…
Competitiveness*
10 day deals on another team
Other teams would have to show interest… Summers may catch on elsewhere… But I think Squeaky won’t be too sought after
Both received their chances and weren’t good. And Lance Thomas could go along with them (again).
Lance Thomas is on a 10 day contract right now.
They should sign Manny Harris and Marqus Blakely
I don’t see a problem with this, don’t think either one showed enough to earn a guaranteed deal, at least so far
Good business moves
Why are people trippin??? Those guys had enough time to prove themselves and did nothing special!!! So please everybody relax!!!
As a matter of fact they need to be a few more people waived on that Roster!!!
If u look at the time they gave him 7 min a game they never really gave him a chance. I have seen squeaky play in the d league and I think really given the right chance he will be a great player. Maybe he didn’t “wow” people but not all players can be a lebron, Kobe, Dwight, dwayne, he is a good team player and knows the game he is a smart player and that really goes a long way I really hope he gets the chance I think he readily deserves