http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/16898321.htm The Timberwolves announced Tuesday that they have placed forward Eddie Griffin on wavers — a move that had been expected for months and officially ends his tumultuous career in Minnesota. Griffin played in 13 games this season before he received a five-game suspension Jan. 12 for violating the NBA's anti-drug program. He never rejoined the team after that, and his nameplate above his stall in the Target Center locker room was removed weeks ago. Griffin, 24, came to Minnesota after signing a free-agent contract with the Wolves in October 2004. He re-signed in August 2005 for three years and $8.1 million, a contract he was given after he spent 15 days in jail earlier that summer. "It was time for both parties, Eddie and the Timberwolves, to move on," vice president of basketball operations Kevin Mc-Hale said in a statement. "It just didn't work out for Eddie here in Minnesota. He will be a free agent next year, and we do not have any future financial obligations regarding Eddie's contract." Griffin held a $2.9 million player option for next season, but his release voids that. It wasn't immediately clear if the Wolves and Griffin agreed to a buyout. An assistant at the office of Griffin's agent, Arn Tellem, said no one was available for comment. Griffin last appeared in a game Dec. 13, so his absence shouldn't be hard to overcome. All-star Kevin Garnett called his release unfortunate. "E.G.'s my guy," Garnett said. "I had the pleasure of being around him, sitting here (next to him in the locker room), and getting to know him a little better than some of the guys in here. In this case, I hope not only that he makes somebody else's roster but that he continues to play basketball." Griffin's troubled NBA career was plagued by suspensions, alcohol abuse and legal trouble. He served 15 days in jail in Houston during the summer of 2005 for violating his probation after he pleaded guilty in a 2003 assault case. The seventh pick in the 2001 NBA draft, Griffin also has battled a civil lawsuit brought against him following his car crash in March 2006 in Minneapolis. In December, he pleaded guilty to a petty misdemeanor for inattentive driving in connection with the incident. Security tapes in a convenience store caught Griffin saying he was drunk moments after the accident. Griffin also was a member of the Houston Rockets for more than two seasons before the Rockets cut ties with him. Hudson update: Wolves coach Randy Wittman continued to laud point guard Troy Hudson for his ability to push the team into its offense quickly. But he said Hudson's performance at the position since moving into the starting lineup March 4 has been up and down, just like that of fellow point guards Mike James and Randy Foye. It showed against Indiana, when Hudson, who turned 31 Tuesday, played just 12 minutes and went scoreless. He had season highs of 26 points and eight assists in his first start against the Boston Celtics. But he had just 22 points and 14 assists combined in the next four games. Hudson hadn't started a game since April 17, 2005, until this current stretch. If Hudson isn't scoring and making good decisions, he becomes a liability because he's one of the worst defenders on the team. "All three of those guys, because of the way they play, have to look to score," Wittman said of Hudson, James and Foye. Briefly: Wolves veteran Ricky Davis was called for a technical foul late in the second quarter for throwing his headband into the courtside seats. He was reacting after he threw the ball away. The technical was Davis' 10th of the season. --

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