Blazers Waive Alexander, But He May Rejoin Summer League Team

UPDATE: Jason Quick of CSN NW reports that Alexander has cleared waivers and will rejoin the team.

Cliff Alexander has cleared waivers and said he will join Blazers' Summer League team on Sunday.

— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 9, 2016

But shortly after, he reversed course. Alexander may still rejoin the team, but not until after Sunday night's game.

Apparently, Cliff Alexander was mistaken: He has NOT cleared waivers, as the deadline isn't until Sunday.

— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 9, 2016

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The Portland Trail Blazers have waived forward Cliff Alexander to make room for new free agent acquisition Festus Ezeli, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:

Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Cliff Alexander, which was needed to create cap room to sign Festus Ezeli.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 8, 2016

The team has said the door to an Alexander return isn't totally closed, however:

If Cliff Alexander is not claimed off waivers, Blazers say he will be welcomed to remain on their Summer League team.

— Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 8, 2016

While there may be more moves to fortify the Blazers' frontcourt in the coming days, the little-used Alexander was the first casualty of the Ezeli signing.

The Blazers cleverly extended Alexander's contract guarantee date a short time ago to give the team until July 25 to release Alexander, who was picked up by the Blazers after going undrafted last year.

Portland has plenty of big men with Ezeli, Ed Davis, Noah Vonleh, Mason Plumlee, and Al-Farouq Aminu currently under contract. Meyers Leonard still has a chance to return to the team in restricted free agency.

Alexander averaged 1.3 points and 0.8 rebounds last season in just 4.5 minutes per game.