George O'Brien
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I still find it hard to believe that the Suns have an outside chance of getting Dampier for $45 million. I will admit that I far more excited about the chance (no matter how remote) of getting Dampier than I ever was about the chance of getting Kobe. Kobe would have made the Suns an exciting team, but the combination of Nash and Dampier would make the Suns a contender.
To me there is no doubt that adding Dampier would be vastly more valuable than Q at the same price. He is not a great center, but he should be a pretty good one and better than anyone else the Suns could get.
But to hope for Dampier means to hope that the Clippers match on Q. That would be great if the Suns get Dampier, but terrible if they don't. Other than Dampier, the free agency cupboard is pretty bare. It is very confusing.
Would Dampier sign with the Suns if the Clippers match on Q? It seems more likely with every day that passes. GS is increasingly unwilling to take back bad contracts for backup players to match and seem more inclined to sit tight and go into the free agency market next summer. GS is looking at players on the basis of whether GS would sign them as free agents at the salaries they are being paid. For the guys being offered, the answer is apparently "no". After trading for Dale Davis, GS has no pressing needs that taking some other team's backups would solve.
Without a sign and trade, it seems unlikely that Dampier can get his initial asking price. Utah, Denver, and San Antonio have used up their cap space. Atlanta is unwilling to do a big contract on an older player. The Clippers are a possibility, but probably would not do both Q and Dampier since they never go after other team's free agents.
This leave Dampier looking a deal for $37 million from most teams, or $48 million (with incentives) from the Suns. The numbers work, but what about his personal needs?
One of his initial wishes was to transfer to the Eastern Conference where he would have a better chance of becoming an All Star. This was before Shaq went East. Also, if he signed with an Eastern team, he would get another chance to play against Shaq four times a season rather than only twice in the West.
At the same time, there were hints that Dampier did not want to be the main focus of the team. On a team like Atlanta, he would be under a lot of pressure to put up huge numbers to justify his salary. On the Knicks he would be subjected to the most intense media scene in the world. On a team like the Suns, there would be minimal media attention and very little pressure. Phoenix has amazingly low expectations about the play of their centers.
Phoenix should be an attractive to team to Dampier. They have solid players at all positions and an emerging super star in Amare plus an all star at PG. This team is a contender to get into the playoffs even without a solid center and has the overall ability to be serious contender if they get good center play. After years of losing in GS, having a chance to play on a top team should be pretty attractive.
It makes so much sense, but I can't help feel something will screw it up. Knowing the Suns history, it would probably be that they get Q and then watch Dampier signs for an MLE.
To me there is no doubt that adding Dampier would be vastly more valuable than Q at the same price. He is not a great center, but he should be a pretty good one and better than anyone else the Suns could get.
But to hope for Dampier means to hope that the Clippers match on Q. That would be great if the Suns get Dampier, but terrible if they don't. Other than Dampier, the free agency cupboard is pretty bare. It is very confusing.
Would Dampier sign with the Suns if the Clippers match on Q? It seems more likely with every day that passes. GS is increasingly unwilling to take back bad contracts for backup players to match and seem more inclined to sit tight and go into the free agency market next summer. GS is looking at players on the basis of whether GS would sign them as free agents at the salaries they are being paid. For the guys being offered, the answer is apparently "no". After trading for Dale Davis, GS has no pressing needs that taking some other team's backups would solve.
Without a sign and trade, it seems unlikely that Dampier can get his initial asking price. Utah, Denver, and San Antonio have used up their cap space. Atlanta is unwilling to do a big contract on an older player. The Clippers are a possibility, but probably would not do both Q and Dampier since they never go after other team's free agents.
This leave Dampier looking a deal for $37 million from most teams, or $48 million (with incentives) from the Suns. The numbers work, but what about his personal needs?
One of his initial wishes was to transfer to the Eastern Conference where he would have a better chance of becoming an All Star. This was before Shaq went East. Also, if he signed with an Eastern team, he would get another chance to play against Shaq four times a season rather than only twice in the West.
At the same time, there were hints that Dampier did not want to be the main focus of the team. On a team like Atlanta, he would be under a lot of pressure to put up huge numbers to justify his salary. On the Knicks he would be subjected to the most intense media scene in the world. On a team like the Suns, there would be minimal media attention and very little pressure. Phoenix has amazingly low expectations about the play of their centers.
Phoenix should be an attractive to team to Dampier. They have solid players at all positions and an emerging super star in Amare plus an all star at PG. This team is a contender to get into the playoffs even without a solid center and has the overall ability to be serious contender if they get good center play. After years of losing in GS, having a chance to play on a top team should be pretty attractive.
It makes so much sense, but I can't help feel something will screw it up. Knowing the Suns history, it would probably be that they get Q and then watch Dampier signs for an MLE.
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