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Orlando Magic Trim Roster to 15, Waive Stiemsma

By Troy Tauscher

Oct 7, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) fights for the rebound against Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Hamilton (25) and center Greg Stiemsma (34) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-106. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) fights for the rebound against Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Hamilton (25) and center Greg Stiemsma (34) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-106. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The wrap up of the preseason is an exciting time for fans and analysts. Meaningful basketball is just on the horizon. For players like Greg Stiemsma, the end of the offseason is not as fun.

The Orlando Magic waived Stiemsma on Thursday, per the Orlando Sentinel. This makes him one of many players on the roster bubble to be let go of by his team.

After going undrafted in 2008, the 6-foot-11 big man out of Wisconsin played in Turkey and also spent some time in the NBA D-League. He received a couple of Summer League and training camp invites, but he could never land a permanent spot on an NBA roster.

Stiemsma has played four seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, and Toronto Raptors. His best season was in 2013, where he appeared in 77 games and averaged 4.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Unfortunately for Stiemsma, a strained Achilles he suffered prevented him from being able to perform in the preseason. He played in only two exhibition games for the Magic before being released.

The Magic have a pretty deep center rotation without Stiemsma. Nikola Vucevic is the unquestioned starter. He’s a double-double machine who scores in the post.  Dewayne Dedmon is a shot-blocker who makes up for Vucevic’s lack of rim protection.

They also signed Jason Smith over the summer, who can serve as a good reserve big. With that kind of size, Stiemsma had no role on the Magic roster.

However, by the middle of the season, teams will suffer injuries and need healthy big guys to fill up the active roster. Perhaps Stiemsma can find is new home then.

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