Former Weber State center Allred, first deaf NBA player, released by Cavaliers

CLEVELAND — Center Lance Allred , a former University of Utah and Weber State player who was the first legally deaf player in the NBA, was released Wednesday by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He played four minutes in Cleveland's 104-84 exhibition loss to Toronto on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers also released guard Michael Dickerson, who was excused from camp on Oct. 1 for a personal matter.

Allred was signed to a pair of 10-day contracts last March before the team signed him for the remainder of the season in April. He played in three games and averaged 1 point.

Allred, who played for two years at Utah before transferring to Weber State, where he starred for two seasons, is writing a book about his disability and growing up in a polygamous sect in Utah.

HAYWOOD NEEDS WRIST SURGERY; JAMISON'S KNEE OK: Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood will have surgery for a torn ligament in his right wrist, but it was not clear Thursday how much of the regular season he will miss.

Some teammates, including guard Antonio Daniels, who suffers from the same injury in his non-shooting hand, said specialists told him that the recovery could be months.

"It's a huge blow. A huge blow," Daniels said of Haywood's loss. "He's coming off a career year, and he anchored our defense really well last year. Very vocal. So, you miss that."

Haywood, hurt during training camp, visited two hand specialists in New York on Wednesday. His operation has not been scheduled, and the team said it wouldn't have a timetable for his return until after the surgery.

Coach Eddie Jordan said the team will know a more definite recovery time after surgery.

"We anticipate it to be pretty soon," Jordan said after the Wizards' win at Memphis on Wednesday night. "Within a week. Who knows?"

Washington did get some good medical news Wednesday about another starter, though: All-Star forward Antawn Jamison has a bruised right knee and is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. An MRI exam showed no other damage.

He was hurt during the first quarter of Washington's preseason opener at the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Haywood averaged career highs of 10.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots last season.

BLAZERS' WEBSTER OUT WITH STRESS FRACTURE: Portland Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster fractured a bone in his left foot Tuesday night in a preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The Trail Blazers said Webster will be evaluated to determine the best course of treatment. A timetable for his return was not set.

Webster led the Blazers with 15 points and six rebounds in the 110-81 win.