Dampier force to sign with Hawks!!!

[JTFan31]

Quote:

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Notes: Isiah Thomas flew to Chicago late yesterday morning along with Frank Murphy, the resident salary-cap expert, to meet with Bulls operations chief John Paxson and figure out a way to get Jamal Crawford to New York. "They're starting with a blank sheet of paper," said Aaron Goodwin, who represents the restricted free agent. "It'd be disappointing if they don't get something done." ... A league source yesterday indicated that Golden State agreed to send restricted free agent Erick Dampier to the Knicks two weeks ago, but the deal was called off by Warriors vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin before anything was finalized. It now seems the capable big man will be forced to sign with Atlanta, which can trade him after 60 days. Memphis and Indiana have both contacted the Hawks about working something out along those lines.

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Well we just have to see what The Pacers will be offering us, but I am sure the Memphis deal is much better because I am sure it will include Swift in it. So this means we don't have to wait till Dec. 15 to trade him, we can trade him anytime after September 30th?

[Diesel]

Nothing is completed until his name is on the dotted line.

He can elect to sign with Phoenix, Indy, or Memphis for the MCE...

Just like we got Jax last year.

Money doesn't always equal signed players.

Ask Utah.

We may just have to prove our pieces and coach before we can sign good free agents.

[tmac13]

If Memphis is willing to trade Swift for Damp, why not just do the deal with Golden State?..If Indy was willing to trade Bender, why not do the deal with Golden State?..Outside of Swift or Bender, who else would we want?

[Diesel]

Salary Concerns??

A SNT would ultimately be done to help GS. Do you think GS would sign Damp to a SNT that is as low as the hawks will? I think that the Warriors wanted both Swift and Battier out of the SNT deal. I think that the Warriors wanted both Bender and Foster out of the SNT deal.

However, we have put a limit on what we will sign Damp for and the reason may be to trade him. However, I heard Woodson and he really wants Damp...

The other reason may be:

All three teams are putting up questionable players.

Yes Damp had an awesome year last year, but the years before were crap.

Yes, Swift has the tools but has yet to break out.

Yes, Bender was a McDonald's MVP, but has yet to show anything as a pro.

Maybe all three teams want to see what they got and what they are getting.

[emeans]

I am a little confused about this one. Why would we sign him and trade 60 days later? Why not sign him and keep him?

Why not do a sign and trade all in one deal? Why would we have to wait 60 days?

[Lascar78]

only the team he played for last year (GS) can do an outright sign and trade. other teams have to wait 60 days

As far as keeping him, I agree. We need a good center at some point

[DominiqueWilkins]

If Dampier is forced to sign with the Hawks, I hope we trade him after the 60 days. I don't think he is the guy we need in this rebuilding process.

I also think it is funny how they use the word "force" because Dampier could really sign with just about any team he wanted, if he we willing to take a lower price.

[JTFan31]

Exactly, I guess they use the word "force" because Atlanta is the only team that can offer him what he wants and Knights knows it. Thats why Knight didn't just throw money out at him. Good play BK.

[capstone21]

I read somewhere that there is already a trade with Memphis in place if he signs with us. I have a feeling that will involve Swift and one of their guards.

[JTFan31]

Do you remember where Capstone? but they still have to wait the 60 days right?

[emeans]

Exactly...If we sign him, then we should keep him. From what I am reading and understanding, there aren't anymore true centers out there. So what are we going to be rebuilding with?

Centers are probably the only position an older (by NBA standards) person can play. That is why Shaq will have at 3 more good years in him. He doesn't need to be quick like a guard. Just man the middle!!

We can rebuild with Dampier at 30. Just make sure you bring in someone next year or the year after under Dampier to learn the position and philosophy of the team.

This Ogden kid comes out in 2006. He is the next Shaq from what I am hearing. We would have to be the sorriest team in the league to have any shot at getting him. I don't think we will ever be the sorriest team in the league even during our rebuilding years. We need to keep Dampier!!

[JTFan31]

Quote:

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Centers are probably the only position an older (by NBA standards) person can play. That is why Shaq will have at 3 more good years in him. He doesn't need to be quick like a guard. Just man the middle!!

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Thats a great point and I never thought of it that way. Damp can give us another 5-6 years there and still be productive, because he doesnt need to be that fast or quick, all we need is what he brings, man the middle, get the boards, block shots and do some dirty work inside offensively.

[AHF]

Centers don't always age that well. When the wheels fall off you can go just like Hakeem Olajuwon did for Toronto. He was much better start with and significantly older than Damp but by the end of his contract Damp may be done.

Remember, Hakeem carried a team to the NBA finals while Damp can't even carry a team to a winning record.

I also hope we trade Damp if we sign him.

[capstone21]

Sorry but it was probably an article from RealGM.

[TheDude]

can we really have lucked into having such a great GM?

[Vol4ever]

This story you are refering to is over a week old. At this point he is probably trying to see what Phoenix will do if they do not get Q.