Grizzlies add Pondexter, Cunningham

The Memphis Grizzlies traded guard Greivis Vasquez to the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday for guard/forward Quincy Pondexter, in a move designed to boost their depth with Darrell Arthur out for the season.

Earlier in the day, the Grizzlies signed forward Dante Cunningham after the Charlotte Bobcats declined to match Memphis' offer to the restricted free agent.

The 6-foot-6 Pondexter averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds in 33 minutes in two preseason games against Memphis. The 23-year-old averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 66 games as a rookie with New Orleans last season.

The 24-year-old Cunningham played in 22 games for the Bobcats last season, averaging nine points and four rebounds on 50.8 percent shooting after a midseason trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Mickell Gladness and Terrel Harris thought they were competing against each other for the last spot on the Miami Heat roster.

Instead, the former NBA Development League teammates both played their way onto the club.

The Heat announced Saturday that they had waived veteran guard Eddie House, meaning a pair of rookies in Gladness and Harris were on the 15-man roster to open the season and therefore earned seats on the plane to Dallas. Miami opens the season against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

The 33-year-old House, who had left knee surgery last month and is not yet ready to play, was told of the decision Friday night by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley.

Harris shot 50 percent in Miami's two preseason games, and now the former Oklahoma State standout gets to start his pro career in his hometown of Dallas. A 6-foot-11 center from Alabama A&M, Gladness had eight rebounds in 21 minutes during the preseason.

ESPNLosAngeles reported that Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant went through a full Christmas Eve practice and said he was OK. But the former Lower Merion star refused to answer questions about the torn lunotriquetral ligament in his right wrist, an injury that was expected to sideline him three to four weeks.

"I'm fine," Bryant said on the eve of his team's season opener against the Chicago Bulls. "I'm not talking about my injury."

Lakers coach Mike Brown said Bryant looked good in practice. He also said Josh McRoberts would start the game at power forward, with Pau Gasol moving to center during Andrew Bynum's four-game suspension. McRoberts joins Devin Ebanks, who will start at small forward, as new opening day starters on the team.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that Paul Pierce did not participate in any of Friday's practice session, ESPNBoston reported, and he remained "doubtful" for the season opener against the Knicks.

- Inquirer wire services