January 5 - Britain's Pops Mensah-Bonsu (pictured) was officially released today by the Toronto Raptors, as first reported on insidethegames yesterday.



They had signed Mensah-Bonsu in November after he had been released by the Houston Rockets. 

The 26-year-old Londoner averaged 2.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 6.7 minutes in 16 games with Toronto, earning approximately $350,000 (£219,000) during his spell.

Under the terms of his deal, the Raptors would have been obliged to guarantee Mensah-Bonsu's contract for the rest of the NBA season had he remained on the roster beyond a deadline.

By releasing him, they are free to sign him to no more than two 10-day contracts before signing him for the remainder of the campaign at $50,000 (£31,000) for each period.

But Mensah-Bonsu may instead prefer to take up an offer from CSKA Moscow to play in Russia.

His representatives, anticipating his release by the Raptors, had earlier approached Real Madrid about signing him but they resited their overtures.

Mensah-Bonsu appeared in four games with Houston this season averaging 1.3 points and 3.3 minutes.

He appeared in 19 games with the Raptors during the 2008-09 campaign after signing as a free agent on March 6, 2009.

He averaged 5.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 13.8 minutes during his first stint with the Raptors.

The four-year NBA veteran has averaged 3.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 8.8 minutes in 54 games with four teams.


Related stories
January 2010: Mensah-Bonsu linked with move to Moscow after Madrid snub
November 2009: Toronto Raptors snap up Pops for second time
November 2009: Rockets jettison Mensah-Bonsu
March 2009: Toronto Raptors sign British basketball star