The Wizards released injured swingman Cartier Martin on Wednesday to create a roster spot for Larry Owens of the NBA Development League’s Tulsa 66ers. The team also picked up Othyus Jeffers for the remainder of the season.
Owens, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 12.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 43 games with the 66ers. He was signed to consecutive 10-day contracts with the San Antonio Spurs and scored a total of nine points in seven games. Owens will be in uniform when the Wizards go for their fourth straight win in Indiana against the Pacers.
With six players out for the rest of the season -- Martin, Nick Young, Rashard Lewis, Josh Howard, Trevor Booker and Hamady Ndiaye -- the Wizards (21-56) needed to add another player to have 10 for the final five games. For that to happen, they had to release Martin, who was the most expendable since he was a minimum-salaried player who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Martin averaged 4.0 points and shot 39.4 percent from beyond the three-point line in 52 games for the Wizards but suffered a stress fracture in his left foot after earlier missing action with a strained right patella tendon. He visited with ankle-and-foot specialist Dr. Mark Myerson in Baltimore but will likely need surgery. Since the injury occurred while playing for the team, the Wizards will still handle the medical costs surrounding his injury. He still received his full salary for the remainder of the year.
Jeffers is averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11 games for the Wizards. He was signed to two 10-day contracts, but the team had to keep him for the remainder of the season to retain his rights.
