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Pelicans.com

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived center Justin Hamilton, who was acquired on February 19 along with guard Norris Cole and forward Shawne Williams as part of a three-team trade with Phoenix.

Hamilton, 7-0, 260, did not appear in a game with New Orleans. Hamilton appeared in 24 games this season with Miami, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Drafted 45th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Louisiana State University by Philadelphia, Hamilton has appeared in 32 career games with both Miami and Charlotte, averaging 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds. Hamilton has also spent time overseas, playing for KK Cibona (Croatia) and VEF Riga (Latvia). In 2013-14, Hamilton appeared in 39 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, averaging 19.2 points and 9.3 rebounds on his way to being named an NBA D-League All-Star. All NBA D-League First Team and NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team.

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Pelicans Waive Justin Hamilton

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis received the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his charitable efforts throughout New Orleans, the NBA announced today.  The award recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

Kaiser Permanente and the NBA are honoring Davis for his increased commitment to the New Orleans community and his efforts to improve the health of local youth.  Davis initiated the launch of AD’s Flight Academy, which hosts monthly events for various youth groups in the New Orleans area.  This week, Davis hosted his February event including a night of laser tag, bowling, arcade games and giveaways for 150 students from the Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation at Laser Tag and Games.  Last month, he treated more than 100 kids from a local YMCA chapter to bowling, refreshments and giveaways, including surprise tickets to the following night’s Pelicans game.  In December, Davis joined teammates Ryan Anderson and Jeff Withey to host a shopping spree at Toys “R” Us for 75 local kids from Boys Hope Girls Hope, Raintree Child Services and Kingsley House.  The week of Thanksgiving, Davis, joined by his immediate family, hosted and served a holiday dinner to residents at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope.

In addition to donating his time to youth outreach, Davis has led his team in its Player Ticket Program, spending $30,000 to send more than 3,700 underprivileged local children to Pelicans games.  His contribution and generosity encouraged several of his teammates to sign up for the program as well.

“Giving back to the community is very important to me, so I decided to do something each month to impact those in need.  I’ve always enjoyed spending time with kids and starting AD's Flight Academy has given me the chance to reach kids from all around New Orleans,” Davis said.  “After winning one of the monthly Community Assist Awards last year and seeing Steph Curry win the seasonlong honor, I knew I wanted to do more.  Hopefully, I can collaborate with some of my teammates next year and make it even bigger; this is just the beginning.”

During tomorrow’s home game against the Miami Heat, NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier and a Kaiser Permanente representative will be joined by Pelicans Owners Tom and Gayle Benson in presenting Davis with the David Robinson Plaque during an oncourt ceremony.  In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Davis’ behalf to the Audubon Nature Institute to support the Pelicans’ continued commitment to coastal restoration initiatives in the Gulf South.

In January, Kaiser Permanente became the presenting partner of the monthly NBA Cares Community Assist Award and a final 2014-15 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award.  In addition to this program, Kaiser Permanente serves as the presenting partner of NBA FIT Live Healthy Week, which encourages fans to make a pledge toward healthier living.  Kaiser Permanente served as a partner of the NBA All-Star FIT Celebration during NBA All-Star 2015 and will team up with the league throughout the year to conduct 14 community health and wellness events annually across NBA, WNBA, and NBA Development League markets.

To learn more, please visit www.nbacares.com/communityassist.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 9.6 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

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Pelicans Anthony Davis Receives January NBA Cares Community Assist Award Presented by Kaiser Permanente

Vice president of digital media for New Orleans Pelicans.

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived forward Shawne Williams, who was acquired Feb. 19 from the Miami Heat along with Norris Cole and Justin Hamilton as part of a three-team trade.

Williams, 6 feet 9, 230 pounds, appeared in 44 games (22 starts) this season for Miami, averaging 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game. Originally the 17th overall selection out of Memphis in the 2006 NBA Draft by Indiana, Williams has appeared in 295 career NBA games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.

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Pelicans Waive Shawne Williams

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived guard Ish Smith, who was acquired by New Orleans earlier in the day from Oklahoma City, along with the rights to Latavious Williams, cash considerations and draft considerations.

Smith, 6-0, 175, appeared in 30 games this season with Oklahoma City, averaging 1.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists. Undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2010, Smith has appeared in 221 career games, also suiting up for Phoenix, Orlando, Houston, Milwaukee and Memphis, averaging 2.7 points, 1.9 assists and 1.4 rebounds.

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Pelicans Waive Ish Smith

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived guard Toney Douglas.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, appeared in three games for New Orleans, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 22.0 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Douglas played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 35 games while averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. Drafted 29th overall out of Florida State in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas had appeared in 297 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State and Miami, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

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Pelicans Waive Toney Douglas

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived point guard Gal Mekel.

Mekel, 6-3, 191, was signed by the team on December 5 as an unrestricted free agent. Mekel appeared in four games with New Orleans, averaging 1.5 points and 3.3 assists.

The Wichita State product appeared in 31 games during the 2013-14 season for the Dallas Mavericks and appeared in all eight of Dallas’ 2014 preseason games.

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Pelicans Waive Gal Mekel

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived forward Kevin Jones and guard D.J. Stephens.

Jones, 6-8, 260, spent the 2013-14 season with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League where he averaged 16.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, earning a selection to the 2014 NBADL All-Star Game. This summer, Jones was a member of the Indiana Pacers’ summer league team. The West Virginia product appeared in three preseason games, totaling seven points and six rebounds in 16 minutes.

Stephens, 6-5, 188, began his professional career with Ilysiakos B.C. of Greece where he averaged 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. After appearing in 12 games, Stephens returned to the United States, signing a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on March 26, appearing in three games and averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds. Stephens concluded the 2013-14 season in Turkey, appearing in seven games for Anadolu Efes, where the Texas native averaged 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds. The former Memphis Tiger appeared in three preseason games with the Pelicans, totaling five points and two rebound in 11 minutes.

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Pelicans Request Waivers on Jones and Stephens

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived guard Dionte Christmas.

Christmas, 6-5, 205, appeared in 31 games last season for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds. Undrafted in 2009, Christmas spent the first four years of his professional career overseas with clubs in Israel, Turkey, Czech Republic, Greece, Russia and Italy. The Temple product appeared in one preseason game for New Orleans (10/16 vs. OKC) registering two assists and one steal in four minutes.

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Pelicans Request Waivers on Christmas

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