| | Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Shawn Kemp and his gigantic contract, which the
Cleveland Cavaliers have been trying to unload since 1998, will be
off their hands by the end of the month.
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| Kemp |
An NBA source confirmed Wednesday that Kemp will be dealt to the
Portland Trail Blazers in a complex, three-team trade also
involving the Miami Heat.
Miami will get forward Brian Grant, and Cleveland will get
forwards Clarence Weatherspoon and Chris Gatling, cash and a future
No. 1 pick -- either in 2001 or 2002 -- from the Heat, as well as
guard Gary Grant from Portland.
Kemp, a six-time All-Star forward, signed a seven-year, $98
million contract in 1997. He was slated to make $46.5 million from 2002-04.
With Kemp on the payroll, the Cavs couldn't maneuver under the
salary cap and were facing a luxury tax next year. But this deal
means their fiscal worries are over.
Under league rules, the trade can not be announced until Aug. 26
because Gatling was already involved in another trade in the last
60 days. In all likelihood, the deal will be announced a few days
later, according to an NBA source who spoke on condition of
anonymity.
Heat guard Dan Majerle, who was rumored to be a part of the
deal, is not involved in the trade, the source said.
Kemp became the Cavs' first marquee player when he arrived via a
three-way trade from Seattle in 1997. The high-flying "Reign Man"
was a box-office draw in Cleveland with his array of high-flying
dunks and post moves.
But despite playing well in 1998 under then-coach Mike Fratello,
Kemp's game began to decline as his waistline expanded. He was out
of shape most of the 1997-98 season, which was mostly ignored since
he still put up great offensive numbers.
It was then that the Cavs began toying with the idea of trading
their best player. Kemp gave Cleveland further reason to doubt his
dedication when he arrived at training camp after the lockout in
1999 weighing over 300 pounds.
No longer a skywalker, Kemp's game was even more earthbound this
past season. His average of 17.8 points per game was his lowest
since 1992-93 and his .417 shooting percentage was a career worst.
Kemp also led the league in personal fouls and finished third in
turnovers.
The 30-year-old was a bigger headache off the court, arriving
late for games, team meetings and flights. Before one of the Cavs'
biggest home games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kemp got to Gund
Arena just 45 minutes before tipoff.
Kemp promised to rededicate himself this past off-season, vowing
to get in shape. It was a promise the Cavs had heard before and one
they were convinced Kemp couldn't keep.
Gatling, a nine-year veteran who has spent time with seven NBA
teams, wasn't happy when he learned of the deal last week.
"I was psyched to play in Miami after I was traded," Gatling
said, referring to the deal in June that sent him from Denver to
Miami. "Then this started. Now I'm not psyched about anything."
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