Here is the link:
http://msn.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0819/1420372.html



Monday, August 19

Newspaper reports Kemp forfeiting some salary

Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Shawn Kemp, the former NBA All-Star whose career has crumbled because of weight and drug problems, will be waived Tuesday by the Portland Trail Blazers, The Oregonian reported in its Tuesday edition.

Stunningly, Kemp has agreed to forfeit more than $25 million of the $46.5 million left on his contract, the newspaper said.

In the agreement, the Blazers will pay Kemp about $20 million over more than 10 years.

It is unknown why Kemp would agree to give up $25 million of his guaranteed contract. His agent, Tony Dutt, was not home when phoned by The Associated Press.

The Blazers also could not be reached late Monday.

The move has important financial implications for the Blazers, with the team likely to save at least $40 million in NBA luxury taxes.

Cleveland coach John Lucas, who has counseled Kemp in recent years, said he was shocked at the news.

"It's not often you hear of players giving back money, especially one of this magnitude,'' Lucas told the newspaper. "It's a statement for the player, just in the regard that he is willing to give back a year of his money.''

Kemp, 33, signed a seven-year, $107 million contract in 1997 before he was traded from Seattle to the Cleveland Cavaliers, then traded to the Blazers before the 2000-01 season.

He never regained his All-Star level of play in Portland, averaging 6.3 points in two seasons.

Kemp entered a drug rehabilitation center for cocaine use in April 2001, near the end of his first season as a Trail Blazer. He returned for the 2001-02 season but was suspended for five games in February for failing to comply with his aftercare program.

Kemp appeared in six consecutive All-Star Games from 1993-1998, five with the Seattle SuperSonics and one with the Cavaliers.

I can't believe this! I wish our players would give back some $. I don't understand this one. Normally, I would say let's get him now for a cheap price, but something is funny about this. I know he is damaged goods but I can't believe he would just give up 25 million. I wished he would call Houston, Howard, Shandon, and Clearance and tell them how good he feels about not robbing his team anymore!

Hey, lets give Shwan a little credit. Maybe he left the money to play on a team where he could make an impact. ALL players aren't
greedy.

I think that this is very unlikjely though.

Did anyone know this was possible? I thought the collective bargaining agreement states that an NBA player couldn’t renegotiate his contract?

Question: If Kemp signs with another team, will he still get paid the salary from Portland plus whatever he gets from the other team?