Shawn Kemp Is Traded to Portland

C L E V E L A N D, Aug. 16 -- Shawn Kemp and his gigantic contract, which theCleveland Cavaliers have been trying to unload since 1998, will beoff their hands by the end of the month.

An NBA source confirmed today that Kemp will be dealt to thePortland Trail Blazers in a complex, three-team trade alsoinvolving the Miami Heat.

Miami will get forward Brian Grant, and Cleveland will getforwards Clarence Weatherspoon and Chris Gatling, cash and a futureNo. 1 pick — either in 2001 or 2002 — from the Heat, as well asguard Gary Grant from Portland.

Kemp, a six-time All-Star forward, signed a seven-year, $98million contract in 1997. He was slated to make $46.5 million from2002-04.

Majerle Not Traded

With Kemp on the payroll, the Cavs couldn’t maneuver under thesalary cap and were facing a luxury tax next year. But this dealmeans their fiscal worries are over.

Under league rules, the trade can not be announced until Aug. 26because Gatling was already involved in another trade in the last60 days. In all likelihood, the deal will be announced a few dayslater, according to an NBA source who spoke on condition ofanonymity.

Heat guard Dan Majerle, who was rumored to be a part of thedeal, is not involved in the trade, the source said.

High-Flying Hero

Kemp became the Cavs’ first marquee player when he arrived via athree-way trade from Seattle in 1997. The high-flying “Reign Man”was a box-office draw in Cleveland with his array of high-flyingdunks 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 outof shape most of the 1997-98 season, which was mostly ignored sincehe still put up great offensive numbers.

It was then that the Cavs began toying with the idea of tradingtheir best player. Kemp gave Cleveland further reason to doubt hisdedication when he arrived at training camp after the lockout in1999 weighing over 300 pounds.