TUALATIN – The Trail Blazers took the first step Friday toward finalizing their final roster for Wednesday's season opener when they informed Coby Karl, Adam Morrison and Justin Holiday that they will be waived Saturday.

The cuts will bring the Blazers’ roster to 15, the league maximum. Portland will send in waiver paperwork to the league Saturday, but team officials informed the players after Friday’s practice, and they will not take part in the Blazers practice Saturday.

None of the three players was expected to make the team as keeping any would have required the Blazers to cut a player with a guaranteed contract.

Karl made the strongest case to make the roster as he ran the team well during his preseason stints at point guard. The 29-year-old journeyman averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 assists in four games, highlighted by a 11-point, five-assist effort in a win over Denver, which is coached by his father, George Karl.

“I hope teams were watching that performance, because whether or not he makes our team, I think he showed that he should be on an NBA roster,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said after the game.

Morrison, 28, a former star forward at Gonzaga, had the biggest name recognition, but could not differentiate himself from the Blazers’ roster players. He averaged 3.2 points in five games.

The 6-foot-6 Holiday, who played at Washington, was a mid-camp waiver claim from Cleveland and was brought in primarily to give the Blazers more size in practice. He appeared briefly in two games.

The Blazers will also formally waive camp invitees Demonte Harper and Dallas Lauderdale, who were allowed to leave the team early this week to spend time at home before they report to the Idaho Stampede, the Blazers’ NBA Development League team.

Teams are allowed to designate three players from their final cuts to their D-League teams, and either Karl –- who played at Boise State and still lives in Boise – or Holiday could join Harper and Lauderdale.

Notes:

Point guard Ronnie Price shot some free throws but otherwise did not take part in practice. Price said he is hoping to practice on Monday. Stotts said he wants Price to take part in at least one practice before he decides if Price will play against the Lakers in the season opener Wednesday. ... Center Meyers Leonard said his head -- on which he got a contusion Thursday at Utah -- was still a little sore, but he practiced Friday. Leonard said he tried to stay out of situations during the live part of practice in which he might hit the bruise. ... Stotts said his biggest nit about the Blazers' performance against Utah was their 25 turnovers. "We want to average 13, 14 turnovers a game – 25 is ridiculous," Stotts said.

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