Mel Turpin

Cleveland Cavaliers
6-11 265 Center

"Dinner-Bell Mel" jiggled his girth up and down the court last season, again failing to live up to expectations... Gund brothers, who own Cavs, must be shuddering as they contemplate paying him $900,000 this season... Can shoot, but that seems to be the only thing that interests him -- other than eating... There's no truth to the rumor that when 342-pound Geff Crompton was cut by the Cavs two years ago, he left this guy a list of his favorite eating places around the league... If he ever took the game seriously enough to really get in shape, he could be a serious force... Bullets picked him No. 6 overall in 1984, out of Kentucky... Was involved in draft-day, three-way trade that cost Cavs Cliff Robinson and No. 1 pick... Born Dec. 28, 1960, in Lexington, Ky... Pays for the privilege of overeating, because he has weight clause in contract.

Relevant Stats:
13.7 ppg, 54.4 FG%, 7.0 rpg