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Cleveland Cavaliers: 15 best forwards of all-time

By Jerran Anderson

Photo by Allison Farrand/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Allison Farrand/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Shawn Kemp, Cleveland Cavaliers
3 Dec 1997: Forward Shawn Kemp of the Cleveland Cavaliers stands on the court during a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California. The Cavaliers won the game 95-67. /

Shawn Kemp. 13. player. 156. . PF. (1997-00)

After terrorizing the league as a member of the then-Seattle SuperSonics with Gary Payton for eight seasons, Shawn Kemp joined the Cavaliers as part of a three-team blockbuster trade in the 1997 offseason. Kemp only spent three short seasons with the Cavaliers, but his presence around the rim and as a force inside was of good use.

He made the sixth and final All-Star appearance of his career in his first year (1997-98) with Cleveland. The 6-foot-9 brute produced 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest from 1998-2000. The schedule was cut short during the abbreviated 1998-99 lockout season, but he still produced despite showing up to camp out of shape.

Kemp put up a career-high 20.5 points per game along with 9.5 rebounds per contest, but the Cavaliers finished the season with a 22-28 record and missed the playoffs. He missed the final eight games of the season dealing with a foot injury.

He did manage to make one postseason appearance with them in 1999, though it came in an first-round exit. Kemp still averaged 26.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest, but it wasn’t enough.

His third season went decently but at 30 years old, Kemp seemed to be out of juice. After the team went 32-50 in 1999-00, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. In Portland, his star fizzled even more. However in Cleveland, it was a positive end to a decorated career.