http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/25353.htm

From today's post.

July 19, 2004 -- It's D-Day for Erick Dampier.
The Warriors have accepted the Knicks' sign-and-trade offer of Nazr Mohammed and Othella Harrington, but before agreeing to sign with the Knicks, Dampier, the 7-foot free-agent center, has a meeting with the Hawks' brass today in Atlanta, sources said.

The Knicks want Dampier to visit New York tomorrow before he makes his decision, which could come as soon as today, but Knicks president Isiah Thomas has had phone conversations with Dampier. The Knicks have offered Dampier six years starting at $9 million after Thomas met Saturday night in L.A. with agent Dan Fegan.

The Hawks can sign Dampier outright because they are under the cap and can offer a maximum deal. However, the Knicks can extend a seventh year under sign-and-trade rules.

Even though Dampier is a southerner from Mississippi, his preference could well be the Knicks over the Hawks. Dampier, who averaged 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds in finally fulfilling his potential, has reservations about the Hawks, wanting the team to upgrade its roster.

The Pacers also were talking to Golden State about a sign-and-trade, but The Post reported Saturday that Thomas became the front-runner when he made an offer of Mohammed and Harrington. Golden State GM Chris Mullin needs a backup center who can score behind Adonal Foyle, and Mohammed is as good as he'll get for his salary ($5.25M). Mullin had wanted from the Pacers a package of Jonathan Bender and Austin Croshere. Pacers president Donnie Walsh views Bender as untouchable and was rejected in a Croshere/Scot Pollard scenario.

Walsh, who drafted Dampier in Indiana, told The Post recently, "Erick's the second-strongest player in the league. He can rebound, block shots and he was a double-double guy last year."



Golden State was pushing Nick Van Exel on the Knicks in a larger Dampier deal, but Isiah had scant interest. Van Exel is a point guard but can play shooting guard despite his lack of size. However, Chicago's Jamal Crawford is a much better fit — younger, bigger, improving. The Knicks will have to get lucky to be able to get both Dampier and Crawford in sign-and-trades, as Harrington, who wants out in a big way, was a key component to the Crawford talks because of his expiring contract.

"Erick wants to win a championship and the Knicks are definitely in the mix," said Ed Jones, Dampier's business manager and director of his kids foundation.

[Edited by - MaTT4281 on 07/19/2004 01:02:39]

Now we see if he's in it for the money or for a chance to be on a winner (if he considers the Knicks a winner!). I wonder if Atlanta will offer more?

Sadly, this deal kills the Crawford deal, unless Mutombo can be subsituted for Othella? Like I say, if Zeke can pull off Crawford and Dampier it's a GREAT summer. We shall see what Erick decides...

Posted by crzymdups:

Now we see if he's in it for the money or for a chance to be on a winner (if he considers the Knicks a winner!). I wonder if Atlanta will offer more?

Sadly, this deal kills the Crawford deal, unless Mutombo can be subsituted for Othella? Like I say, if Zeke can pull off Crawford and Dampier it's a GREAT summer. We shall see what Erick decides...

Well, the Knicks are a playoff team, so they are winners. Not yet tittle contenders, yes, but if Dampier wants to win and if he plays like the center he can be, then we definitely improve our chances someway.

Also, this deal would keep the Crawford deal alive from NY's standpoint. When the rumors started about Nazr and Othella being offered in the Dampier trade, it was also said that Othella, as you said, was going to be substituded with Deke. Who knows if the Bulls will bite, as they keep resisting to Moochie, but at least the deal doesn't changes that much.

We'll see if he really wants to win more than the money, crzymdups.

Posted by timmyTtop:

if isiah can pull this off, i'd be very impressed if they got crawford... if they did, they could pull off 50 wins and possibly isiah can be the GM of the year!... but for now, plz sign damp plz!

Yeah, before anything else we have to get that first step done. Get it done, Isiah.

If the deal is done, what does the cap look like for NY?

Well, for just Harrington/Mohammed, this isn't a half bad deal--- we've at least upgraded in size, bulk, and shotblocking compared to Nazr at center.

I guess we'll see just how much money means to this man. Barring surprise rookie/fa performances, Atlanta will take a couple of years to get back to respectability. The Knicks have a chance to accomplish something, assuming Tim Thomas ups his game, if Houston heals enough to contribute, if Frank Williams and Sweetney step up their games...

Funny, as a free agent, the only reason to want to come to the Knicks is that they're willing to pay a premium via sign and trades. Otherwise, every position except PG and perhaps PF is a mess. This is a team that is sorely searching for a second star.

Salary cap/ticket prices aside, Dampier *should* make us better and I guess that's the bottom line.

Giving Dampier a six or seven year contract is insane.

Ok, lets say he pulls of the Dampier and Crawford deals. Our staring lineup will be: Steph, Craw, TT, Sweets and Damp.

Is that good enough? Will we need anymore deals? For some reason, I cannot be happy with those 2 guys.

Let's wait until the proverbial smoke clears. If we get Damp and if we get Craw we will have a starting lineup of:

TT,Damp,KT (not mentioned as part of either deal, H2O, Steph and off the bench Sweets, JC, Penny or Fwill, Ariza, DeMarr?, Baker? Barrett?

That's pretty good depth and a nice combination of defense/offense. Playoffs-yes-deep into playoffs maybe.

Also remember that Miami has little past their 3 main cogs and Detroit still can't shoot.

to me this deal is just about getting better at a position that needs major improvement. Nazr is an OK hustle player or backup, but his footwork is a joke and his defense isnt much better. Dampier is a major upgrade for Nazr and Harrington. 9mm is steep and there is obviously a gamble. This guy has been on a losing team for 7 years. This is not an excuse but when you suck EVERY year you cant tell me it doesnt effect how you play. He's been durable the few years as well.

If it gets done its a great deal for us because we get something for nothing except money.

I think a killer follow up deal would be sending KT and change for Battie and Wagner. Wagner has insane potential and Battie is a perfect shot blocking defensive backup. Also has a good mid ranger jumper and this frees up more p/t for Sweetney.

pg Marbury
sg Houston
sf TT
pf Sweetney
c Dampier
bench: Penny, Battie, Wagner, Frank (if he's not traded), Ariza, DJ... etc etc

looks like a very good half court team. Dampier and Sweetney would be murder on the boards.. especially the offensive boards.

I don't like 6 years for Dampier (I was hoping 4), but this is a legit center and I guess you have to do what you have to do. Dampier could have some Jamaal Magloire like seasons for at least the next 3 years in the East. With Sweets and Damp, we'd have amazing rebounding. Add a Crawford and you have 3 legitimate scorers in the backcourt and 3 great board men (assuming KT is still around). If we could somehow get Vince Carter and Alvin Williams for TT, KT, Mutombo, Trybanski and FW, we'd have 3 former 20 point scorers to add to two guys who can get 10 boards per. Dampier alone makes us top 4 or 5 in the East...another scorer may help us come out of East.

I still say we should offer Swift the MLE max and use KT to sweeten some deals.