Sonics Grant Kemp’s Wish Forward Traded In Three-Team Swap That Brings Baker To Seattle

The Reign Man had dried up long ago.

Shawn Kemp - unhappy with a contract that was to pay him almost $50 million over nine years - had instead turned into the Drain Man the past 12 months, missing planes, skipping practices and demanding trades until the Seattle SuperSonics finally caved in on Thursday.

Seattle was alternately reluctant and relieved to pull the trigger on a three-team trade that sent Kemp and his assortment of excitement to Cleveland, with the Sonics getting fifth-year power forward Vin Baker from Milwaukee.

The Bucks, in turn, received point guard Terrell Brandon, forward Tyrone Hill and a conditional 1998 firstround pick from Cleveland with the Cavs also getting point guard Sherman Douglas from the Bucks.

As far as the Sonics were concerned, the trade was Kemp for Baker, and considering the circumstances, they felt it was about the best they could do.

“It’s a happy day, but it’s a little bit of a sad day, too,” said Sonics general manager and president Wally Walker. “We had a lot of ups with Shawn, but this summer we had our downs.”

In Kemp, the Sonics dealt away a five-time All-Star who thrilled fans with his dunks, wowed opponents with his strength inside and frustrated teammates and coaches with his immaturity. He leaves Seattle as the Sonics’ all-time leading shot-blocker (959), second-leading rebounder (9.6 a game) and third-leading scorer (16.2).

In Baker, the Sonics get a three-time All-Star who last season was one of only four players in the NBA to average more than 20 points (21.0) and 10 rebounds (10.3) a game.

Baker, 25, was the eighth pick in the 1993 draft out of Hartford. He has established himself as one of the NBA’s elite forwards, though the fact that he played for a team that never made the playoffs or won more than 34 games raised some questions.

In fact, Bucks management was willing to trade Baker because it felt he was too quick to blame others and become “uncoachable” once losing set in. But compared with a probable holdout by Kemp, the Sonics decided a possible problem with Baker was worth a gamble.

“We will have to shape him into being a strong force on this team,” said Sonics coach George Karl, whose team begins training camp Oct. 3. “But there are very few players capable of getting 20 and 10 a night. Kemp is one of them and Baker is one of them.”

Baker has a contract signed through the 2004 season, but it includes an opt-out clause that will allow him to become a free agent after the 1998-99 season. “There is a 100 percent chance he will do that,” Walker said.

But the Sonics feel that will give them two years to see Baker and decide if they want to keep him for the long term.

Kemp, unhappy with the organization over a contract he felt was unfair and several other perceived slights, had said this summer he would “never, ever, ever” play for the Sonics again.

Seattle at first held out hope that they could bring Kemp back into the fold.

“But that couldn’t be done without communication,” Walker said. And Kemp wouldn’t talk to anyone in the organization, including Walker and Karl.

When he apparently decided he wouldn’t talk to teammates, either, the Sonics decided Kemp had to go. Kemp accompanied Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf to a string of NBA exhibition games in Japan in August, and Payton had hoped to talk to Kemp on the trip and convince him to return to the Sonics.

“On the Japan trip (Payton) became convinced that it would not work out,” said Payton’s agent, Aaron Goodwin.

And the Sonics then began seriously pursuing a slew of deals for Kemp. Walker claimed he wasn’t in a hurry to make a trade, saying he could have waited until 1999. But Karl was clearly pleased to get the situation settled before the beginning of training camp.

“We couldn’t live with what was happening last year,” Karl said.

The Sonics also apparently became concerned about the response of fans as season-ticket sales were said to be sluggish, although Walker would not confirm or deny that and said he didn’t have any numbers.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Last season Kemp: 18.7 points, 10.0 rebounds Baker: 21.0 points, 10.3 rebounds Douglas: 9.7 points, 5.4 assists Brandon: 19.5 points, 6.3 assists Hill: 12.9 points, 9.9 rebounds