Top 20 Cleveland Cavaliers: #9 Lamond Murray

Top 20 Cleveland Cavaliers: #9 Lamond Murray

It's a pretty big deal to make the Top 10 on LeBron James is Underrated's 20 greatest Cavaliers of all-time. Lamond Murray should feel honored. He played only a few years for the Cavaliers, but his time was appreciated.

Lamond playedhis college basketball at the University of California, alongside Jason Kidd. He was a solid scorer, greatrebounder, and a physical presence forCal.Kidd andMurray madefor anexciting Golden Bears team towatch, and they made two consecutive NCAA tournaments. Lamond was somewhat overshadowed byphenom J-Kidd, but he was still a force and everyone knew he wouldbe a 1st rounddraft pick.

Unfortunately, Murray's career was screwed right off the bat.Hehad the unfortunate experience of being dafted by theClippers with the 7th overall pick in the1994 draft. Nobody wants to play for the Clippers.So, he was essentially in basketball purgatory until1999, when they mercifully traded him toCleveland. The Cavaliers sent Derek Anderson and Johnny Newman to the Clippers.

Lamond came tothe Cavaliers ready tomake an impact, and he certainly did. In the 1999-2000 season, heappeared in 74 games, averaging 16 points and 6 rebounds a game.Pretty solidnumbers when you consider he was playing alongside Bobby Sura, Earl Boykins,WesleyPerson, andShawn Kemp. At 6 ft. 7" and 235 lbs, he wasbig for the small forward position and presented match-up problems for other teams. He oftenused hisstrength and tenacity to drive the lane and finish with a nasty dunk. Not to mention he was a consistent jump shooter.

Unfortunately that year,Coach Randy Wittmanled the Cavaliers to a32-50 campaign and missed the playoffs. Not exactly what Lamond had in mind when he came to a Cleveland team with a decent amount of talent. During these tough times, I remember that Lamond Murray made the Cavs somewhat watchable. I applaud him for that.

The next year, nothing got better. Even with the addition of Andre Miller, the team posted a 30-52 season. Lamondand Miller were the two bright spots onwhat was otherwise a pretty terribleteam. So the Cavaliers solution the next season? Fire Randy Wittman, hire John Lucas, and sign Ricky Davis.Hmm.It wasn'treallya surprise thatthe Cavaliers finished 29-53. Lamond did lead theCavaliers in scoringwith 16.6 points per game, but this teamand franchise were in shambles.

Lamondwanted out of Cleveland, andthe front office granted him his wish.You can't reallyblame him. He was upset that the Cavaliers traded Andre Millerfor Darius Miles.Fortunately, he didn'thave to take part in the miserable 17-65 season the year before we drafted LeBron. He played two seasons in Toronto, and then another in New Jersey.Lamond, we respect you for your time inCleveland. You made a terrible teamfun to watchon occasion. You even made wearing the mask fashionable. Lamond Murray is Underrated

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