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Spurs waive Jimmer Fredette, 3 others

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports / reuters

The San Antonio Spurs shed four training camp bodies on Wednesday, leaving them with just a single roster decision ahead of the regular season.

The Spurs waived guard Jimmer Fredette, center Youssou Ndoye, guard Keifer Sykes, and swingman Deshaun Thomas, cutting the roster to 16.

Fredette is the most notable name of the three. The former 10th overall pick joined the Spurs on a training camp deal but failed to impress in two preseason games, scoring just four points in 26 minutes played.

The 6-foot-2 Fredette has struggled mightily at the NBA level since entering the league in 2011. The BYU product has averaged 6.1 points and 1.4 assists in 13.7 minutes per game across stints with the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Chicago Bulls.

His shooting percentages (38.1 percent from deep) have been solid, but Fredette's inability to defend or create shots for others have made him a complicated fit in the NBA game. Still, there's hope for fans of Jimmer Mania, as the 26-year-old guard could potentially take his talents overseas, or hone his craft with the Spurs' D-League affiliate, a quick call away for an NBA team that finds itself with a sudden need for shooting off the bench.

Thomas was drafted by the Spurs with the 58th pick in 2013 and signed a one-year tender to join the team in training camp this offseason. He scored nine points on two-of-nine shooting in 29 preseason minutes.

Because he was cut, Thomas will become an unrestricted free agent once he passes through waivers. At that point, a return overseas to Barcelona could be in the cards for the Ohio State product, whom surprised some by signing his tender and always seemed a long-shot to crack the roster.

Ndoye, meanwhile, will likely latch on with the Spurs' D-League affiliate. The 7-foot Senegalese center went undrafted out of St. Bonaventure, where he averaged 11.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks as a senior in 2014. He appeared in three preseason games for the Spurs, averaging 3.3 points and two rebounds in 10 minutes.

Sykes will join the Austin Toros of the D-League, reports Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski. The undrafted Green Bay product went scoreless in three brief exhibition appearances but was solid in summer league action for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Spurs' roster totals 16 following Wednesday's cuts. Teams are mandated to trim their rosters to 15 or less when the regular season begins in less than a week, putting an increased focus on the final roster spot over the next several days.

San Antonio has 13 players under guaranteed contract and one more (Matt Bonner) with a significant guarantee. That makes the battle for the 15th spot a dog-fight between veteran Rasual Butler and sharpshooter Reggie Williams.

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