METIAIRE, La. -- The New Orleans Pelicans have waived veteran forward Alonzo Gee, a move that keeps recently acquired guard Lance Stephenson on the opening night roster.I was nervous but confident at the same time, the 6-foot-5 Stephenson said after practice Monday. I try to control what I can control. I can control going hard in practice. I control being with the coaches and learning everything I can possibly learn and being a good teammate.Stephenson has struggled to find a long-term fit since leaving Indiana in 2014, playing with Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis during the past two seasons. Deserved or not, he became saddled with a reputation of being selfish and unreliable. He said he intends to show everyone that he is not the person that you heard about.Stephenson was productive late last season with the Grizzlies, averaging 14.2 points in 26 games. The Pelicans decided to give him a chance with a low-risk, non-guaranteed contract, meaning he had to make the team in preseason.I just had to earn a spot and it shows how confident I am, Stephenson said. I feel like I can do whatever the coach wants me to do. I can rebound or play defense. I can play the point. I can make something happen. Im a great play-maker.The 6-foot-6 Gee, acquired by New Orleans during the 2015 offseason, appeared in 73 games with the Pelicans last season, averaging 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game.Gee also has played with Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland, Denver and Portland since going undrafted out of Alabama in 2009. He has career averages of 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds.We probably needed another play-maker, so thats why we went with Lance, Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. It helps in that hes a ball-handler and he does have the ability to maybe play in three different positions.Gentry added that Gee did a lot for our team last year and hes a guy tats well-respected on this team. So what happens is you just make a basketball decision and thats basically what it came down to.The Pelicans, who open their season at home against Denver on Wednesday night, have two regular guards and a small forward sidelined for the time being. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday is on indefinite leave to tend to his wife, retired soccer star Lauren Holiday, who is recovering from brain surgery and gave birth last month to their daughter. Guard Tyreke Evans and small forward Quincy Pondexter are rehabilitating from knee surgeries.Gentry said those absences were a factor in keeping Stephenson.Weve still got some guys injury-wise thats going to be out, so we took a chance on bringing him in and taking a look at him, and we just felt like he could do some things that we needed that we didnt have available right now, Gentry said. All I can do is judge him by what hes done here. I havent had any problems at all coaching him. I havent had any problems at all when I corrected him. Wholesale NCAA Jerseys . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Authentic College Football Jerseys . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.net/ . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Cheap Jerseys From China . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. College Jerseys Outlet . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Rising gymnastics star Laurie Hernandez is turning professional ahead of the Summer Olympics.The 16-year-old from Old Bridge, New Jersey, announced Wednesday she is giving up her amateur status just days before Team USA competes for a second straight Olympic gold. Hernandez had verbally committed to competing collegiately at Florida before signing with Shade Global Inc.Hernandez says it was not an easy decision to make but it allows her to focus entirely oon gymnastics and enjoying the sport she loves.ddddddddddddThe U.S. junior champion in 2015, Hernandez put together a strong showing during the U.S. championships and the Olympic trials. She finished second to three-time world champion and Olympic teammate Simone Biles at trials while also posting the top score on balance beam. ' ' '