ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., December 9, 2006 – The Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA Development League have acquired center John Edwards and waived forward T.J. Cummings.

Edwards, 7-0, 265, has played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks. After finishing his collegiate career at Kent State, Edwards played with the Pacers in 2004-05, the Hawks in 2005-06 and was traded back to the Pacers along with Al Harrington on August 22, 2006 for a 2007 first round draft selection. He was waived by Indiana on October 30.

He played in 65 NBA games (five starts), averaging 6.7 minutes, 1.5 points and 1.0 rebound. Edwards was a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection at Kent State as a senior (2003-04), averaging 13.2 points and setting a school record with 81 blocked shots.

Cummings had played in seven games (five starts) for Albuquerque, averaging 22.9 minutes, 13.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. A member of the Thunderbirds 2006 D-League championship team, Cummings played in 55 career game (29 starts) for the T-Birds, averaging 24.6 minutes, 12.7 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Edwards is expected to be in uniform when the Thunderbirds (5-2) play next, hosting Colorado (3-1) on Friday.