PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- As reported, the Portland Trailblazers, a team loaded with aging former NBA superstars and misfits, Tuesday waived one of them by releasing 6-10 forward Sean Kemp.
News about the release of the former six-time All-Star first was publicized in the Portland Oregonian on Tuesday morning. The Trail Blazers team restructured his contract and then waived him.
Kemp was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade in August 2000, but was not the same player who was once one of the premier power forwards in the NBA throughout the
1990s.
His weight had reached 280 pounds and that apparently factored into his overall lack of production. He averaged just 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in 75 games last season.
In a major surprise, Portland, which has been eliminated in the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers five of the last six seasons, will pay Kemp about $20 million of his $46.5-million contract over the next 10 years. It is extraordinary for a player basically to give back money.
According to the Oregonian, although the NBA Players Association expressed concern about the size of the deal, the union, the NBA, the Blazers and Kemp all approved it. It is thought to be the most money a player has agreed to give back to a team.
"First of all, I want to thank Shawn for his fairness during this process," said Trail Blazers President and General Manager Bob Whitsitt. "The organization pursued this course of action because we didn't feel the contract between the team and the player was financially fair, given today's NBA economic climate. The restructuring allows us to reduce our commitment to the player in a way that was fair and equitable for both parties."
The paper reported that the Blazers will get an estimated $12.5 million reduction in each of the next two seasons in accordance with Kemp's forfeiture.
"I would like to thank the Blazers, (owner) Paul Allen and the fans of Portland for their support," Kemp said. "I expect to continue my NBA career at the highest level and am looking forward to the challenge ahead."
The 6-10 Kemp, who turns 33 in November, originally selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 17th overall pick in the 1999 draft, was 19 when he made his NBA debut. After averaging 6.5 points in his rookie season, he averaged at least 15.0 points in each campaign until he had just 6.5 in 68 games with the Trail Blazers in 2000-01.
Whitsitt suggested that this was a move that Portland had to make from a personnel standpoint.
"Every offseason, we look at ways of improving our team and this summer has been no different," he said. "We feel we have addressed some targeted needs by our trading for (guard) Antonio Daniels and the signing of (point guard) Jeff McInnis. (Tuesday's) move will further allow us to look at ways of making this team better. I know that Shawn is happy with the outcome and is looking forward to his future in the NBA."
