Raptors Acquire Lamond Murray http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/pr_murray_020925.html (September 25, 2002) --- The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have acquired forward Lamond Murray and a future second-round draft pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for centre Michael Stewart and a future first-round draft pick. "Lamond is a talented veteran who will solidify our rotation and improve our scoring," said Glen Grunwald, Raptors senior vice-president and general manager. "He has proven to be a consistent performer throughout his NBA career." Lamond Murray can score from inside and out. William R. Sallaz, NBAE/Getty Images Murray averaged a career-best and team-high 16.6 points with the Cavs in 2001-02. He also added 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 32.6 minutes per game. He started 68 of his 71 appearances last season, where he tallied 20 or more points on 26 occasions, including a career-best 40 points January 2 versus Golden State. He ranked 13th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage at 42.4 (101-238). The 6-foot-7, 235-pound product of the University of California was the seventh overall selection by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1994 NBA Draft. He spent five seasons with the Clippers before being dealt to Cleveland on August 4, 1999. Murray has played in 584 regular-season games in his eight NBA seasons, averaging 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 28.2 minutes. He is a career 35.5 per cent shooter from three-point range. He led the Clippers in scoring during the 1997-98 season at 15.4 points per game. He also averaged a career-best 6.1 rebounds that season. Murray’s lone playoff experience came with the Clippers in 1997 where he averaged 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 21.7 minutes in three games. Murray is a first cousin of former Raptor Tracy Murray. Stewart was signed by the Raptors as a free agent January 21, 1999. He missed 59 games last season with three separate stints on the injured list. He averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 8.5 minutes in 11 appearances during the 2001-02 season. Stewart was signed as a free agent by the Sacramento Kings prior to the 1997-98 season. He averaged 4.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 21.7 minutes in his lone season with the Kings. In four seasons with the Raptors, Stewart averaged 1.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 121 appearances. In 202 career games, Stewart has averaged 2.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 13.7 minutes. "We thank Michael for his time and dedication to the Raptors and wish him well as he continues his career," added Grunwald. Chris
I don't get this move for Toronto. Are they planning on bringing Murray off the bench? Peterson should start this year after proving himself last season. Why do I feel like this is the NBA version of the movie "Major League"? I would hate to be a Cavs fan this season. They have absolutely nothing to look forward to for the next 8 months, then they have to hope they win the lottery. If they don't they are screwed for at least the next decade easily.
Murray will probably backup Carter and might start instead of Mo-Pete but it's also possible that he might be a backup for him too.
Cleveland is dumb. I would HATE to be a Cavs fan. I am gonna laugh if they don't even get the number one pick next year. Jim Paxson needs to be fired.
It's essentially a might win/can't lose move for the Raptors, as Murray will provide extra scoring, might even be something like the 2nd scorer Carter has needed to defuse the nightly double teams, and it's essentially trading one useless bad contract for one that might be overpaid or might be productive. Aside from reducing their commitment by 1 year and getting rid of a malcontent, I'm not sure what Cleveland was thinking...
And yet maybe Paxson is following his owner's instructions: I might sell this piece of crap team, draft the best players as you see fit....and oh yeah, I won't max out Andre Miller, not this year anyway, see what can be done there. Of course you'd have to be frustrated as a player there. One year they say we're rebuilding, the next we're gonna go after vets, and so on.
Good trade for the Raps. The Raps have been looking for a consistent second scorer (sorry, A. Davis) since T-Mac left, and while Murray may not exactly be the answer, he is another solid scorer, possibly becoming that second scorer they covet. Plus, they correct a mistake they made a few years ago by ridding themselves of Stewart, who has done even less than Cato has.
Come on, DENVER! Are you just going to sit back and let Cleveland take the title of "Worst team EVER" away from you? Are you going to give up the Lebron James sweepstakes without a fight?? Come on!! If you're going to tank, you might as wel go the full nine, right? Or should I say, the full 8, as in "8-74" It is your right...no, it is your DESTINY to be the worst team of all time! OK...Marcus Camby for Shandon Anderson, Lavor Postell, and Frank Williams!! You know you want to...
I think this trade makes a lot of sense for the Cavs! Murray was their only consistent scorer left on the team, and they had already traded away the only person who would be able to get him the ball. So, duh! They had a square peg and a round hole. Get with it people. The Cavs are simply looking for a line-up that works well together.
