http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/sports/basketball/05nba.html


Dampier, a free agent who has played the past seven seasons with Golden State, said he would consider signing with the Knicks even if it meant accepting less money than he was offered elsewhere.

"You get to a certain point in your life where the money's not a factor; you just want to win," Dampier said after visiting with Coach Lenny Wilkens at the Knicks' practice facility here. "I think I'm at that point. I'm not getting any younger, and I want to be in the playoffs and have a chance for a world championship. I can take this team further,'' he said.

Dampier's desire to win could be tested soon. The Atlanta Hawks have offered him a six-year contract worth about $50 million, and unless the Knicks are able to pull off a sign-and-trade deal with Golden State, which is unlikely, Dampier will have to settle for the midlevel exception of $4.9 million a year from the Knicks. If he chooses to join the Knicks, Dampier said he would sign a one-year deal, then test the free-agent market again next summer.

"Atlanta's in the rebuilding stage," Dampier said. "I've been at that stage for the last six years. I don't want to be in that position any longer. But I'll consider all options."

Dampier, who had dinner with the Knicks' president of basketball operations, Isiah Thomas, on Wednesday night, is hoping the Knicks can work out a sign-and-trade deal that will allow them to beat the Hawks' offer. But that is not likely.

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Soooooo, Damps is saying he'd like to come here, he wants to win, if only we could offer more money than Atlanta...right.

sorry, I left this out of the Damps article from nytimes....

Golden State has little interest in trading for any of the Knicks' players, especially with the Knicks nearing completion of a sign-and-trade deal for Chicago's Jamal Crawford and Jerome Williams that would cost them Dikembe Mutombo, Othella Harrington, Frank Williams and Cezary Trybanski.

The Knicks and the Bulls have agreed on the players involved in the trade, which would enable the Knicks to pay Crawford about $56 million over seven years. But the deal is being held up because Crawford, a talented fourth-year guard, wants more money. Despite the delay, a Knicks official said he still expected the deal for Crawford to happen within the next few days.

If Dampier signs with the Knicks, the team could be in for a strong season from him. He has been an underachiever throughout his career, which began in Indiana in 1996-97. But last season, he was exceptional, posting career highs in points (12.3 a game), rebounds (12.0) and field-goal percentage (.535).

Dampier gave one reason for his improved play last season: more opportunities. Because of injuries to several teammates, Dampier played a career-high 32.5 minutes a game. In each of the previous four seasons, he averaged fewer than 25 minutes a game.


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/sports/basketball/05nba.html

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1091683268116820.xml

Quick question...
if we sign damp for 1 year...
how much can we offer after the contract has expired?

We can give him a 20% raise, which is slightly more than the 15% raise we could write into a 2 yr MLE. I don't know if the one year thing is just to get the extra 5% or if there's another team they're eyeing with cap room next year, but I can't find one that needs a center...

This is why I feel like the one year MLE isn't a viable option. I wonder if Damps is just trying to bluff Mullin or Atlanta to either trade with the Knicks or up the offer, respectively.

I'm shocked Damps is even considering signing a 1 year MLE when he has a $50 mil offer. I would think he would want at least a 6 year MLE with an opt out clause after 2 yrs. Or is that not possible with an MLE deal?

Posted by CTKnicksfan:

I'm shocked Damps is even considering signing a 1 year MLE when he has a $50 mil offer. I would think he would want at least a 6 year MLE with an opt out clause after 2 yrs. Or is that not possible with an MLE deal?

I always thought you could add an opt out into any contract, after the first two years...I could be wrong.

Also, thanks for the numbers, Andrew. Anyone else get the feeling that at the dinner with Damps, Zeke whipped out a big pie chart or something explaing how Damps could make more money here?

Posted by Andrew:

To elaborate on the 4 year possibilities...He signs a:

1 Year Mid level and then resigns for another 3 years (non-bird exception)

• 1: $5M
• 2: $6M (20% increase from last year)
• 3: $6.6M (10% raise)
• 4: $7.26M (10% raise)

2 Year Mid level and then resigns for another 2 years (early bird)

• 1: $5M
• 2: $5.5M (10% raise)
• 3: $9.625M (175% increase from last year)
• 4: $10.83M (12.5% raise)

Atlanta's offer is supposedly 6 years, $50 mil. If Damp took the 2 year MLE, then resigned for 4 years, he could exceed that offer over the 6 year span. with 12.5% raises, his take would be $12.18M in year 5 and a whopping 13.7M in year 6. Totat value of the 2 contracts would be $56.8M. That would seem to make a 2 year MLE far more attractive financially to Damp than a 1 year deal.

Posted by Bonn1997:

The annual raise is NOT compounded. It would be 10% (or 12.5% if you're re-signing your own player) of the first year of the contract.

Ok...didn't realize that but in this example it really makes very little difference.

The short deal also helps the Knicks greatly becuase Dampier will have to play hard for another 1-2 seasons, depending on how long he'll sign for.

The reason I've always been shying away from Dampier is because his one huge year came in a contract year, and it can be argued that he only played hard for the payoff. This appears not to be the case, as he's taking a pay cut. If it is the case, then the Knicks should have a rebounding machine on their hands for however long he signs for, since he'll be out to get a big contract.

It's win-win.

AND they keep KT and Nazr. I wonder if Mullin wishes he had done that deal now.

Isiah has really been a top GM this summer. Waiting everything out, not giving up too much, Crawford signed for a reasonable amount (7 yrs., $56 million vs. the Post reporting 7-yr., $70 million). Now all teams have used up their cap space and Isiah has gained leverage just by having patience. Really a well-played offseason if they can ink Dampier for a 1-2 year deal.

Posted by 1:

It would be hard to see Dampier signign a 2 year MLE becuase those are likely his best two years. It is unlikely that after two years the Knicks would want to resign him for more money.

I agree it won't be easy but the question for Dampier is who will be willing to give him the most money: Some other team in twelve months or the Knicks in 24 months when they own his partial Bird rights. I suspect he'd pick the latter (I know I would), but we'll have to wait and see. It's not gonna be an easy sale. There's no one I'd rather have than Isiah working on it though.