Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

3 Cleveland Cavaliers additions who didn’t live up to their hype

By Chad Porto

Feb 6, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Derrick Rose (1) smiles as he prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA;Cleveland Cavaliers guard Derrick Rose (1) smiles as he prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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25 Apr 1998: Shawn Kemp #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during a first round NBA Playoff Game against the Indiana Pacers at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 92-86. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Lafore
25 Apr 1998: Shawn Kemp #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during a first round NBA Playoff Game against the Indiana Pacers at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Cavaliers 92-86. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Lafore /

Shawn Kemp

Shawn Kemp may not be a name most NBA fans of a certain age remember but he was a beast for the Seattle SuperSonics. He was in the 90s what Zion Williamson is today, just healthier. He formed one of the best duos in the NBA with Gary Payton and the tandem even got to the NBA Finals in 1996, where they fell to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Kemp though had his own fair share of issues during his time in Seattle, and later into his arrival in Cleveland and later Portland. Weight issues were part of it, but the biggest issue Kempt dealt with was his drug use. It derailed his career and by 31 he was washed up.

The Cavs got him before then and only had to trade away Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill to get him. Hill and Brandon went to the Milwaukee Bucks, who traded Vin Baker to the SuperSonics in a three-team trade.

Despite his issues, Kemp had two very good seasons with the Cavs, but only once did he have a winning season as the team’s star player. As the years went by, he fell apart more and more, and by his last year in the city, Kemp was averaging a career-low 41.7% from the floor.  His weight and personal issues forced the Cavs to move on from Kemp despite solid-looking stats otherwise.

They dealt Kempt to Portland as part of a three-team trade, where the Heat sent Clarence Weatherspoon, Chris Gatling, along with a 2001 first-round draft pick to Cleveland. Portland would send Gary Grant to Cleveland, and Miami would get Brian Grant from Portland. The Cavs’ first-round pick would turn into Brandon Hayward.

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