if the two deals happen for Crawford and Damps, a ton is going to depend on chemistry- because after these two deals, we've got some very nice pieces- this is light years ahead of the talent that Layden brought in during his entire tenure here.

And winning has got to mean something to Damps- so if the money's close, he's got to pick NYC over Atlanta.

And if winning doesn't mean anything to him, I think I speak for all fans in saying we wouldn't want him!

Posted by BigSm00th:

So now you see why the Knicks traded Keith Van Horn for Tim Thomas AND Nazr Mohammed.

If Dampier is the 12/12 guy he can be, they traded Van Horn for Tim Thomas and Erick Dampier, which is an awesome deal.

It's up to Isiah to get the Crawford deal done now.

and Doleac!

I want a center who can defend in the worse way, but 7 years for Dampier is a huge NO NO!!! There should be a team option after 4 years...

I've said this before and I'll say it again - they are bidding against Atlanta. They have to overpay for Damp. And you know Atlanta is going to make some stupid offer since they have done NOTHING with their cap room yet. I don't think this is a done deal yet.

That being said, I hope it happens. This is exactly what this team needs! I love this deal. Do it, Zeke! Please sign, Damps! Do you really want to play in an empty arena in the same division as Shaq??? (no one has brought the Shaq factor up, but in the new divisions, Atlanta and Miami are in the same D).

The thing about big men is that you HAVE to overpay. Compare the deal Damps would get to what Camby just got. They're both 30 and Camby is far more brittle, yet Camby just got 6 yrs and $60 million. Damps put up far better numbers, albeit on an inferior team, and is far more healthy. This means he's in line to get at least 6 years at $75 million in this market. That's just the way it goes. It will guarantee the Knicks a title in the watered down Atlantic and thus at least a three seed. Do it.

The question is can we still get Jamal? Because then I would run outside and do backflips down seventh avenue and buy season tickets right now.

Assuming Dampier is a legit 12/12 guy and not just a contract year wonder, can stay healthy and we aren't signing him to an insane contract I like this deal. We need a legit center because Nazr is nothing but a backup who can't play defense.

If he reverts back to being a 8/7 player with a $10 million a year contract we're going to rue this deal for the next 6-7 years.

Dampier has all the skills to be a dominant post player. He makes me mad though....the news of GS possibly agreeing to a sign and trade is kind of bitter sweet because I think Dampier can get 20 and 12 a game....He could either be the return of the Charles Smith or become player I believe he can be which is a dominant scorer inside.

Dampier has crazy moves and he has a nice hook shot. He has great foot work and he can get up to dunk the ball when the opportunity presents itself.

The Damp that has shown up on the court is a guy that seems lost and disinterested and then all of a sudden will bust out with a 20/20 night like he always does it.

I sure hope dude signs on with the Knicks and plays the way he keeps saying he can. His thing is he alwasy complains about minutes.....

I wrote him a e-mail a while back(he has a website and he suprisingly answered my e-mail). He said that fans have a hard time understanding what goes on with a team and what the coaches want you to do, etc.....that's BS to me cuz if you can play nothing can stop you. He said he likes the Knicks but it's up to Isiah. I'll look for the e-mail and post it.

Let's get Damp already....this off-season has been dry long enough.

My Name,

I understand your point, but sometimes fans just don't understand what is always going on with a team or an organization. You have to be given the ball in order to make a presence in the post. You also have to play more than the 1st and 3rd quarters. Thank goodness I was given that opportunity this past year.

Thanks for the email,
Damp



From: EnyStar@aol.com
To: erickdampier25@erickdampier.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 7:23 PM
Subject: post game


I think you took too long to show your game. Everyone talks about your rebounding and shot blocking but you've always done that. The biggest disappointment for me is your post game. You have a lot of moves and sometimes you forget that. You gotta hit the gym this summer and work on that part of your game.

The east is supposedly weak but Indiana, Detroit, Miami, and the Nets are for real. I feel you alone give all those teams fits. The Balls in your court though. Do you want to be a good player or do you wanna be one of those guys they talk about that changed the game back in the east 2000's?

I know you have your guys in your ear like your agent, your family, friends, other players. Me as a fan of the game of basketball would really like to see you on the Knicks. They seem to have changed the organization and have become more of a true ball club. They got Kareem, Aguirre, Isiah, Herb, Lenny, Willis Reed......what more can you ask for? That may be the best group of guys to be around a big man like you.


Well, I hope you appreciate the e-mail. If anything continue to be aggressive on the boards and on defense but let's see you dominate more on offense. You know you got the moves. I know you got them. This game is a show and prove game. Show and Prove!

My Name.

This is the e-mail he sent me and the letter he responded to.

Kind of interesting now that he could be a Knick anyday now so it seems.

I'll tell you what though.....he better play better than Nazr cuz Dampier hasn't shown that much of a difference in play. The fact still remains that Dampier potential is off the charts......it's all up to him if he wants to become great.

[Edited by - enyspree on 07/19/2004 12:04:01]

1 caveat

to the dude who was skeptical about reports about Atlanta trying to sign Dampier--i told u i dont make sht up. AND if it came from NBA-TV--it's LIKELY that an executive from the Hawks--either Billy knight or Wilkins leaked this information. That is why you are now hearing that atlanta is a big player after the fact. That is one thing--dont discount the Hawks because Billy Knight DRAFTED Dampier-- Dampier lives VERY close to Atlanta --they can pay him MORE money and they NEED a C+ dont discount Dominique Wilkins who is just as big a star as Isiah but has been played down because of the market. If Foyle got 7+mm Okur8+mm Camby 10+MM and atlanta could sign him to a deal that could start 2mm more than us per year--something like what Nash got.

Here is what I think our starting lineup will look like for next year....

Dampier
Antoine Walker
Tim Thomas
Allan Houston
Stephon Marbury

Take a look at Dampier's game logs ( http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3117/gamelog). The guy had some monster games and multiple 20 rebound efforts last year. He was the 4th best rebounder in the league. And especially take not of when he get more than 32 minutes per...he had some great games when given the minutes, and saved his best games for the last month of the season. T

Hmmm... he doesn't mention Atlanta in his auto-reply...

Hello,

Due to the large amount of email that I have been receiving over the last
week, (about 200 a day), I will not be able to respond to your email as
quickly as I would like. I always welcome messages from fans, but fans from
NY, Indiana, and LA have flooded my email account over the last week. I
welcome all of them, but with such a large number coming in, it is absolutely
impossible for me to respond to 200 a day.

If you are wanting information on my foundation, please email my business
manager Ed Jones @ edjones@erickdampier.org. Ed will forward me your
information only if it is Foundation related.

Thanks for the support and keep checking my website, www.erickdampier.org for
updates every week.

Damp