(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."
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.