Timberwolves Acquire Forward Ronald Dupree from the Detroit Pistons and Waive Forward Ndudi Ebi

October 31, 2005

Ronald Dupree Photo Gallery

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale today announced the team has acquired forward Ronald Dupree from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a future second-round draft pick. Additionally, the team waived forward Ndudi Ebi. The opening night roster now stands at 15 players.

"Ronald is a solid defensive player and we wanted to get another big defender at the small forward position," McHale said. "He is a guy that we have looked at in the past and we are glad that we were able to add him to the team."

Dupree, a 6-7, 209 pound product of Louisiana State University (1999-2000 - 2002-03), has averaged 4.7 points (.421 FG%), 2.8 rebounds and 14.5 minutes per game in 94 regular-season contests over two campaigns with the Chicago Bulls (2003-04) and Detroit (2004-05). He averaged 3.2 points (.480 FG%), 2.0 rebounds and 10.0 minutes per game in 47 contests with the Pistons in 2004-05 after signing with the team in July, 2004. Dupree scored a career-high 20 points on April 15 vs. Milwaukee, while hauling down a career-best eight rebounds in a season-high 30 minutes on Jan. 24 at Minnesota.

He was not selected in the 2003 NBA Draft, but signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Bulls on Jan. 7, 2004. He signed with Chicago for the remainder of the season on Jan. 28. Dupree averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.0 minutes per game in 47 contests as a rookie with Chicago, including eight starts. Dupree made his NBA debut on Jan. 7 and recorded team highs of 18 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. He posted 10-plus points on 11 occasions and grabbed 10-plus boards twice.

Ebi averaged 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.5 minutes per game in four preseason contests. He was originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (26th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. In two seasons in Minnesota, Ebi appeared in 19 contests averaging 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 4.5 minutes per game. He posted a career-high 18 points with a game-high eight rebounds (in 28 minutes) in the April 20 season finale vs. San Antonio.

"Ndudi is a hard-working young man who has NBA talent and a future in this league," said Timberwolves head coach Dwane Casey. "He just needs an opportunity to play and be in game situations and unfortunately we don't have the luxury of giving him the minutes he needs at this time."

"Ronald is an experienced defender at both the shooting guard and small forward positions, and will back up Wally Szczerbiak and Trenton Hassell," Casey said. "He gives us NBA experience that we need as our younger players develop."

The Timberwolves tip-off the 2005-06 campaign by hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. The game will be telecast on FSN North with Tom Hanneman and Jim Petersen calling the action and can be heard on KFAN AM 1130 with Chad Hartman and Billy McKinney.