Dampier to Knicks?

[sunsfn]

IT'S UP TO ERICK

By PETER VECSEY and MARC BERMAN
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ERICK DAMPIER

July 19, 2004 -- It's D-Day for Erick Dampier.
The Warriors have accepted the Knicks' sign-and-trade offer of Nazr Mohammed and Othella Harrington, but before agreeing to sign with the Knicks, Dampier, the 7-foot free-agent center, has a meeting with the Hawks' brass today in Atlanta, sources said.

The Knicks want Dampier to visit New York tomorrow before he makes his decision, which could come as soon as today, but Knicks president Isiah Thomas has had phone conversations with Dampier. The Knicks have offered Dampier six years starting at $9 million after Thomas met Saturday night in L.A. with agent Dan Fegan.

The Hawks can sign Dampier outright because they are under the cap and can offer a maximum deal. However, the Knicks can extend a seventh year under sign-and-trade rules.

Even though Dampier is a southerner from Mississippi, his preference could well be the Knicks over the Hawks. Dampier, who averaged 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds in finally fulfilling his potential, has reservations about the Hawks, wanting the team to upgrade its roster.

The Pacers also were talking to Golden State about a sign-and-trade, but The Post reported Saturday that Thomas became the front-runner when he made an offer of Mohammed and Harrington. Golden State GM Chris Mullin needs a backup center who can score behind Adonal Foyle, and Mohammed is as good as he'll get for his salary ($5.25M). Mullin had wanted from the Pacers a package of Jonathan Bender and Austin Croshere. Pacers president Donnie Walsh views Bender as untouchable and was rejected in a Croshere/Scot Pollard scenario.

Walsh, who drafted Dampier in Indiana, told The Post recently, "Erick's the second-strongest player in the league. He can rebound, block shots and he was a double-double guy last year."


Golden State was pushing Nick Van Exel on the Knicks in a larger Dampier deal, but Isiah had scant interest. Van Exel is a point guard but can play shooting guard despite his lack of size. However, Chicago's Jamal Crawford is a much better fit — younger, bigger, improving. The Knicks will have to get lucky to be able to get both Dampier and Crawford in sign-and-trades, as Harrington, who wants out in a big way, was a key component to the Crawford talks because of his expiring contract.

"Erick wants to win a championship and the Knicks are definitely in the mix," said Ed Jones, Dampier's business manager and director of his kids foundation.


http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/25353.htm

 

[elindholm]

What will Okur's starting salary with Utah be? It sounds like my bet with F-Dog is going to be a close call.

(For those who don't remember, I predicted that Dampier's starting salary would be at least $2 million higher than Okur's. F-Dog took the under.)

 

[JCSunsfan]

I really don't know why GS would do this. To do a sign and trade with the Knicks you've got to match salaries. GS takes back as much salary as they would have given to Dampier to keep him AND they get inferior players.

GS would be better off letting Dampier walk. But the ideal would be just to sign him themselves.

If they wanted to do a deal like this, I'd give em Eisley, Voshkul, and Casey.

 

[JCSunsfan]

What they ought to be looking at is a Kidd for Damp and Claxton.

 

[elindholm]

What they ought to be looking at is a Kidd for Damp and Claxton.

Now you're talking. I think New Jersey has to throw in a little more talent, but that could make sense for both sides.

Edit: LOL, sorry, I meant the Warriors would have to include more talent.

 

[cheng]

I really don't know why GS would do this. To do a sign and trade with the Knicks you've got to match salaries. GS takes back as much salary as they would have given to Dampier to keep him AND they get inferior players.

GS would be better off letting Dampier walk. But the ideal would be just to sign him themselves.

If they wanted to do a deal like this, I'd give em Eisley, Voshkul, and Casey.

Mohammed is as good as he'll get for his salary ($5.25M) for two more years along with the last year of Harrington's contract for Dampier. That's a no brainer for GS considering how much they paid Foyle and Okur got from Utah this summer.

Its not like GS don't need a big man. Mohammed is a steal at $5.25M but he cant defend Shaq for the knicks.

I do think they overpaid Fisher alot. Phil Jackson's role player have failed miserably once they sign with another team.

 

[Joe Mama]

I would also rather let Dampier walk if I was the Warriors.

Joe Mama

 

[F-Dog]

Yeah, I have no clue why the Warriors would take those players when they could let Dampier walk for nothing.

Another $8m in contracts would put the Warriors above the tax threshold for sure, so they're talking about paying at least double the money for two players who are barely worth what they're making.


If I were the Warriors, I'd concentrate on finding a taker for NVE instead...their whole offseason has baffled me, though.

 

[George O'Brien]

Clearly the Warriors are focusing on the short term. Letting Dampier walk would not have done a thing for them this year. The picked up a coupld of mediocre players, but they are guys who will help. Getting Othella Harrington suggests they don't think Murphy will come back 100% and Nazr Mohammed is at least a center.

I'm guessing GS is expecting get back into the free agency market next year when NVE, Robinson, and Harrington come off contract. This deal is just a holding pattern until they are out from under NVE.