The Minnesota Timberwolves released guard Fred Hoiberg on Monday, less than two months after he underwent heart surgery. Hoiberg was the designated player for the amnesty provision under the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement. According to the CBA, each team was permitted to waive one player on or before August 15, 2005 and to remove that player's salary from its payroll for purposes of computing its tax payment for the 2005-06 season and any future seasons for which the player was under contract. The Timberwolves will be responsible for the remaining year of Hoiberg's contract, and he is eligible to sign with another team. He underwent successful heart surgery on June 28 to correct an enlarged aortic root. "Obviously, this was a tough decision," said Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale. "With the uncertainty of the timing of Fred's recovery, we think this was in the best interest of both parties. Fred now has the opportunity to focus completely on his return to the court without any added pressure, and we as a franchise have improved flexibility under the salary cap to add someone who can immediately help us this season. Fred is a class act and a true professional both on and off the court." Hoiberg averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds in 76 games last season. He topped the league and established a new club record in three-point field goal percentage, making 48.3 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. In 10 NBA seasons with the Wolves, Chicago and Indiana, Hoiberg has averaged 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest.