Kemp Trade Rumors Heat Up, But Sonics Not Ready To Deal

All-Star forward Shawn Kemp has asked the Sonics to trade him through a request made by his agent, Tony Dutt.

The Houston-based Dutt contacted Sonics president Wally Walker just days after the Sonics lost Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Houston Rockets. Sources close to the situation say Kemp has indicated to his advisors on a number of occasions that he is serious about wanting out.

Walker and coach George Karl have yet to talk to Kemp directly since the season ended. Efforts to reach Kemp, who vowed after the Houston loss there would be “a lot of changes” within the Sonics team before next season, were unsuccessful Thursday.

His recent demand is the most telling sign that the Sonics are in for a long summer.

“We’ve heard from a couple of different places (about Kemp),” Walker said Thursday. “But we haven’t spoken to Shawn about it. … A trade of any player we would only do if it’s in the team’s best interests.”

Kemp made $3 million last season, and has six years remaining on his contract. Troubling to Kemp is that he won’t earn his NBA market value until the end of that deal, when he is scheduled to make $14.6 million for the 2002-2003 season. But under terms of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, the Sonics can offer him only a one-year contract extension with a 20-percent increase on the value of his last season - $17.5 million for the 2003-2004 season.

Short-term, the Sonics also are handcuffed because their total payroll is over the salary cap. Only teams under the cap can restructure contracts. So Kemp’s wish is to be traded to a team with enough salary room to pay him more money now.

No teams are under the cap at the moment, but that figures to change depending on how certain teams deal with their own free agents. Phoenix and New Jersey are among several teams with enough free agents for a real chance to get under the cap.