PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The Portland Trail Blazers, who have had a team filled with veteran All-Stars for the past few seasons, apparently will waive forward Sean Kemp some time on Tuesday.
According to a report in The Oregonian, the Trail Blazers will waive the six-time All-Star.
Kemp was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade in August 2000, but has not been the same player who was once one of the premier power forwards in the NBA throughout the
1990s.
His weight has reached 280 pounds, and that seems to be a factor in his 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, reportedly 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 has expressed concern about the size of the deal, the union, the NBA, the Blazers and Kemp approved it. It is thought to be the most money a player has agreed to give back to a team.
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.
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.
