What will the Hawks do NOW.....

[Diesel]

We have 12.81 million left under the cap. How will we spend it...

Experts say we will give 9.2 million to Damp in a 6 yr 60 million dollar deal.

Do I have a problem with that? Well, Damp certainly would give us a force in the middle. The contract itself is not a huge burden.

That leaves us exactly 3.61 million to spend. Our needs are PF, BU PG?

I would think Mike Woodson may ask about Big Game Hunter (Lindsey Hunter). By my count he has 2 championship rings and lots of experience. But Hunter won't be so productive on offense. Maybe a 2 year 2.2 million dollar deal? Charlie Ward? The Mayor Fred Hoiberg?

Pfs: Robert Horry? Chris Anderson? Googs? Medvedenko? Nailon? Padgett? Darius Songolia?

[OGRat]

I thought it was interesting that Sacramento had not signed Songaila(sp?). He's restricted so they are probably looking for the market to determine his value, but he would be an interesting signing for the Hawks.

[chillzatl]

I don't so much mind the total amount or the length of the contract. It's the 9mil per year that hurts. I know he's a big guy, which means he's going to command more simple because he's a big guy and I know he's a walking double double. But it hurts to think we're losing practically all of our cap room on one guy who is not, and probably will not be a star.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm not dogging him by saying I don't think he will be a star. I'm just being realistic. I would love to have him here. Just not sure if I want him at that much per year.

[Diesel]

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But it hurts to think we're losing practically all of our cap room on one guy who is not, and probably will not be a star.

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First off why not? There are no Cs in the East. None but Shaq. We face the big fella 4 times... That matchup would be classic.

However, Damp put up 12/12 this season. Contract year or not... that's an impressive effort. Some nights getting 25 boards.

Our team will be built on defense and transition offense. To do that, we need rebounds.

About the $$$ that hurts so bad..

Damp would be making less than 1 million more than Hendu. If you want to know where all the money is going, go no further than Hendu/CC/JT. For what they bring compared to what Damp can bring, it's no comparison...

If I thought they would do it, I would trade JT to Orlando right now.. for Jameer Nelson/Filler...

Anyway, I think that Damp could be a huge addition and would propel us into the playoffs with just he and Harrington anchoring our offense.

[TROUBLEMAN69]

I wouldn't touch Dampier with a ten foot pole. This guy produces for one season, and now he is worth $9 million per year? I don't want to be stuck with another Alan Henderson contract.

TROUBLEMAN

[Diesel]

Why hasn't Damp played more than 30 minutes per game for only 2 out of 8 seasons?

When he averaged more than 30 mpg he put up at least 12 points and 9 boards.

However, he has been playing 20 something minutes per game alot.

Is it Foyle?

Is it Injury?

Can you really say it's effort... I mean, when given over 30 mpg he has produced?

So what's the deal?

If we can get those questions answered, then it's possible to evaluate this more carefully?

[Diesel]

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HoopsHype.com Articles

Dampier whets All-Star appetite

by AJ Hayes / January 13, 2004

On the surface, 1997 doesn’t seem like such a long time ago. But seven years is seven years, no matter how you slice it. And to put in perspective, at this time in 1997, Monica Lewinsky was a household name in just one half of the Bill Clinton household. Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” ruled the airwaves and while LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were surely schooling the competition, they happened to be just 12-years-old.

1997 also marked Latrell Sprewell’s third trip to the NBA All-Star game as a Warrior. Well, seven seasons and one infamous coach choking have since passed and Golden State fans are still waiting for their next All-Star announcement.

But if the Warriors’ towering center Erick Dampier continues to have more games like he did Monday night, when he scored a season high 23 points, grabbed 22 rebounds and added a season-high 7 blocked shots in a heart breaking 115-113 double overtime loss to Memphis, he may force the Western Conference selection committee to end the Warriors All-Star drought soon.

Though Dampier making the All-Star team is still a long shot – Shaq, Yao Ming and Brad Miller would probably get the nod over him – it’s easy to make a compelling case for the Warriors’ 6-foot-11, 265 pound big man. Dampier ranks in the NBA top ten in both field goal percentage and rebounds per game and his 153 offensive boards rank second in the entire NBA.

And if the all-star choosers need any more swaying – all they have to do is survey the Warriors dressing room.

“Erick is very deserving of an All-Star berth. He’s been our rock,” said Warriors forward Mike Dunleavy. “Since game one of season he’s been pretty much a dominant force in the post. In the Western Conference, Damp is among the elite centers, no doubt about it.”

And if you need anymore convincing, give Memphis coach Hubie Brown a call. While Brown stopped short of calling Dampier performance against his Grizzlies the most dominant by an NBA center this season – the seasoned coach said it was pretty darned close.

“Look at his numbers: 22 rebounds, 10 coming offensively. Those are some staggering stats,” Brown said. “It was one of the best games we’ve seen all season from an opposing big guy. Anytime you put up 23 points and grab 22 rebounds, you know that your center is playing.”

All talk of All-Star game rosters aside, Dampier, now in his eighth NBA season out of Mississippi State, is just happy to be getting so much playing time. Totally healthy after past seasons dragged down by a series of knee injuries, the big center is finally playing the way the Warriors had envisioned when they traded one of their all-time great players and fan favorites, Chris Mullin, to Indiana in exchange for Dampier and Duane Ferrell prior to the 1997-98 campaign.

“I’m just trying to give it my all. Obviously, we have to win games, that’s how ultimately we will be judged,” said Dampier who has yet to experience a winning campaign – let alone a playoff minute in Golden State burnt orange and blue. “I just have to keep hitting the boards and blocking shots. I have a lot of time invested here and I want to make it work.”

Early this season, the bar was set high for Dampier when fellow Warriors center and good friend Adonal Foyle was shelved with a balky left knee. After splitting the No. 5 position with Foyle over the past six seasons, Dampier knew more than ever would be expected of him in the key. The in-the-paint situation became even more intense when power forward Troy Murphy went down with a foot injury in training camp. Foyle has not played a minute this season and Murphy still hasn’t fully returned yet.

As Dampier scanned the Warriors dressing room on opening night against Dallas, the faces that looked back at him – which included new additions Nick Van Exel, Cliff Robinson and Calbert Cheaney – looked back expectantly. Dampier vowed not to let them down.

“The biggest thing for me is going into every game knowing I’m going to play 30-plus minutes each night as opposed to last season when I didn’t know if I was going to play 20 or 25 minutes,” Dampier said. “With all the injuries, I knew I would have to carry a significant portion of the load and I looked forward to that. Plus with all the new faces on the team, I wanted to show what this team was all about. I didn’t want to let Nick and Cliff and all those other guys down.”

Though Dampier and Eric Musselman had their differences last season – upset with his minutes Dampier was once quoted as calling him Coach Musselhead – the second year Warriors coach has had nothing but praise for the 29-year-old Dampier, who’s very active in Warriors charity programs and enjoys clothes shopping and jet skiing when he’s not cleaning NBA glass.

“He doesn’t have anybody playing behind him. With Foyle and Murphy not being out on the floor, we need Damp in there,” said Musselman. “He feels comfortable with his teammates and his teammates look to get him the ball in the block and he’s playing through. He’s not getting in foul trouble so that’s helped him be able to play more minutes.”

And even if a troop of healthy Warriors big men were to show up on Musselman’s front door – center Evan Eschmeyer has also been on injured list all season after knee surgery – that doesn’t mean Dampier would spend more time modeling Warriors sweats.

“Somebody would have to steal Damp’s minutes away,” Musselman said. “Because he’s one of the leading rebounders in the NBA. It would be crazy to take his minutes away.”

At the Warriors practice facility in downtown Oakland, the retired jersey numbers of former Warriors greats – including the Hall of Fame centers Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond – hang from the rafters, so it’s no surprise that Dampier has gained much of his inspiration and blue collar work ethic around the hoop from a former Warrior.

But it’s not Thurmond or Rick Barry or Al Attles that Dampier credits most for his advancement as a center. Instead it’s Clifford Ray, the undersized 6-foot-9 man in the middle for the 1974-75 Warriors, the only Golden State club to win an NBA championship. The pair first hooked up when Ray worked as a Warriors assistant coach in 2001-02 and soon became friends.

“I came into camp this season in the best shape of my life and I credit Cliff for working with me all last summer. He even came to live with me over the summer back in Mississippi. I have to credit Cliff with a lot of my success,” the humble big man said. “Cliff, he always told me, ‘Damp, everything that you have, I didn’t have. All you have to do is believe in yourself and work heard everyday.’ No matter what happens in my career or life, he’s always going to be there for me.”

With a little luck, Ray may find himself at Staples Center in Los Angeles on the 15th of next month watching Dampier play alongside the other deserving Western Conference All-Stars.

AJ Hayes is a San Francisco-based sports writer and a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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[TROUBLEMAN69]

I'm sorry, but A. Foyle shouldn't take minutes from anyone. Dampier has been criticized in the past for his lack of effort. The guy is 30 years old,has a history of injury problems, and can barely keep A. Folye from stealing his minutes? If the deal is for 6 or 7 million per year, then I would be all for it, but 9 million is too much for him.

TROUBLEMAN

[Diesel]

I can't say either way.

however, if we get Damp, we might want to ask Clifford Ray to be on our coaching staff!!!

[CHORO44]

Hands of steal. No way I would offer 9 Million a year, I say 7 tops. Isn't he getting old?

[Buzzard]

I hope you are right about Damp being a force, I have doubts about 30 yr old guy who has only played one good year. Man, I wish we could work out a sign and trade with him for either Swift or Mihm.

[DominiqueWilkins]

I agree, Dampier just isn't worth that kinda money, and I hope the Hawks just pass on him. I wouldn't mind us giving him a contract, but not a 9 million a year.

[Packfill]

The money is troubling but the length of the deal is even worse. $9 million per for three years would be alot more palatable then for six years. Not many 36 year old centers in the NBA that are worth $9 million.

[Final_quest]

I think he is worth $9 million for 1-3 years, 4 years tops. If we had a team option after year 5 it would be risky, but maybe worth it. 6 years is too much for me. It's a similar situation to Steve Nash. He is a great player, but at his age I wouldn't want to sign him to a big deal like that.

Still, if we got him I would definitely cheer for him as a Hawk. It's strange that nobody seems close to landing him. If the Hawks were interested why would they wait so long? Maybe we were after Martin first, and Dampier is plan B. Also, shouldn't we try to sign some of these RFA like Swift, and see if their teams match?

[Traceman]

I just don't think Billy is going to pay Damp that much for that long at his age. I'd offer Damp 5 yrs/$39M starting at $6.5M MAX and dare him to go out and beat it. If he did, fine. But who is going to give him more? Who has the room to give him more? GS is not looking like they are going to sign and trade him unless they get an offer they can't refuse so it will come down to if he willing to play for less elsewhere. I'd call his bluff.

[TheDude]

i agree trace...now that billy has played his cards right and dampier has no other options, i say play hardball..say how about this and if you don't like it, hey that's fine with us..

[AHF]

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i agree trace...now that billy has played his cards right and dampier has no other options, i say play hardball..say how about this and if you don't like it, hey that's fine with us..

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I totally agree. Dampier has bad contract written all over him.

Plus how good is he going to make us? Golden State sucked last season in Dampier's best year. Does replacing Nick Van Exel with Jason Terry; Jason Richardson with Josh Childress; Mike Dunleavy with Boris Diaw; and Troy Murphy with Al Harrington really make you think he'll be worth tying up that much cap room in the future AND keeping us from getting a premium pick in the draft?

Go with the Stephen Jackson strategy and keep the years on the contract low.

[chillzatl]

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Damp would be making less than 1 million more than Hendu. If you want to know where all the money is going, go no further than Hendu/CC/JT. For what they bring compared to what Damp can bring, it's no comparison...

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Remember, hendu put up numbers close to that in his contract year and think about how losing that money hurts....

Though I think damp can consistantly be a 12/12 type guy. He's not going to be a star, east or not.