Here's an update on the Q, Kittles, and Dampier situations from Chad Ford. It's nothing we didn't already know, but fun to read about, anyway...
The Clippers decided not to match the Suns' six-year, $42.6 million offer sheet for Quentin Richardson, sources told Insider. Instead, they traded for Nets shooting guard Kerry Kittles in a move that preserves their cap space for next season.
With most of the free-agent dollars dried up, several teams and player agents were waiting with bated breath for the decision. The Clippers' decision not to match for Q, but to trade for Kittles, may have been the worst of all worlds for the few free agents left out there.
If the Clippers had matched, suddenly the Suns would've become players in the free-agent market again. Warriors free-agent center
Erick Dampier has been waiting over a week to see what happens with Phoenix. The Suns still needed a big man and Dampier would've been a good fit. However, with Q on the books, the Suns are totally out of cap space.
Their pursuit of Dampier may not be over, however. With Q in the fold, the team now has a logjam of swingmen with Richardson, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Casey Jacobsen. The Suns could attempt to package Marion in a deal for Dampier if they feel they still need a center. Johnson could be another trade target. He's up for a lucrative extension this summer and, depending on what he asks for, the Suns could choose to move him instead of meeting his asking price.
By not matching, the Clippers had roughly $13.2 million in cap space to use. However, they absorbed all of Kittles' $10.3 million contract in the trade, leaving them around three million under the cap. Why would the Clippers pay Kittles $10.3 million but refuse to pay Richardson (arguably the better player) $5.8 million next year? With Kittles and
Marko Jaric coming off the books next summer, the Clippers will have max cap room to play with again next year.
With the Clippers and Suns now out of the free-agent market, that leaves only the Hawks and Bobcats with significant cap room to re-sign free agents. The Hawks have been talking to Dampier and Stromile Swift. The Bobcats have been pretty quiet with GM Bernie Bickerstaff indicating that he's happy with the roster they've put together.
The Nets, by virtue of not getting back anything in return for Kittles, also acquire a $10.3 million trade exception they can use. Theoretically, the Nets could acquire any player in a trade who makes up to $10.3 million without sending out a player in return. They cannot, however, use the exception to sign a free agent. Given the cost cutting that Bruce Ratner is forcing GM Rod Thorn to undergo, it's doubtful that the team will use the exception, however.
"We don't want to be a taxpayer," Thorn told Insider on Thursday afternoon. "This was an attempt to make that possible."
The Nets now stand at $47 million in payroll, about $6 million short of where the threshold landed last season. Thorn told Insider he expects to use part of his mid-level exception and possibly their $1.6 million exception, but the team won't go overboard.
"We need to fill in a few holes," Thorn told Insider. "Making this deal allows us to add several smaller pieces. Kerry was very good for us, but he was a role player. We felt like we could sacrifice him and still be good."
More options for Damp? Now that the Suns are likely out of the picture, look for Dampier to land in either New York or Atlanta by early next week.
The Knicks have reportedly upped their offer to Golden State, offering
Kurt Thomas and
Othella Harrington (who is in the last year of his contract) to the Warriors for Dampier in a sign-and-trade. Thomas could provide the Warriors with a much-needed veteran presence at the four, though Chris Mullin might balk at the five years, $36.8 million left on his contract.
If things don't go that way, Dampier will likely sign the Hawks' offer. The Hawks have, according to sources, upped their offer to Dampier now that they've received considerable trade interest from several teams, including the Grizzlies. The Warriors may not be interested in doing a sign-and-trade, but the Hawks wouldn't be averse to signing Dampier and then trading him. If they sign Dampier, they won't be able to trade him until Dec. 15.
There's always the risk, given his history, that Dampier will get injured and become untradeable before the deadline. But if he goes to Atlanta and plays well for a few months, it may convince a team like the Grizzlies or Pacers to make a trade that could help fill a number of holes that the Hawks have.
