http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/25379.htm

July 20, 2004 --

"Erick Dampier flew yesterday to Salt Lake City, where the Hawks are playing their summer league. There, Dampier was to be wined and dined by the Hawks brass ?GM Billy Knight and VP Dominique Wilkins ?in talks that would greatly determine the Knicks' future.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas, who hopes to give Dampier the red-carpet treatment, too, was back home in Indiana, waiting with bated breath, because it's nearly three weeks into July and he has yet to upgrade his roster.

But $74.1 million ?not one lobster dinner in Utah ?will tell the tale of whether Dampier becomes a Knick this week. And that is why the Knicks appear in solid position to land the Warriors' 6-foot-11 unrestricted free agent whom Thomas feels is needed with Shaquille O'Neal now in the East.

The Hawks are $11.4 million under the salary cap, according to a league source. If they are willing to extend Dampier a six-year deal starting at that number, the total would equal an outrageous $74.1M, with 10-percent raises. Thomas knows his chances of getting the Warriors' unrestricted free agent would then be toast, as it beats his six-year, $65 million offer.

However, the sense is the Hawks, who are rebuilding and don't have a starting center, aren't willing to use all their cap space on one guy ?especially Dampier, who mostly had underachieved until last season, in his contract year, when he averaged 12.3 points and 12.0 rebounds.



There's a feeling Dan Fegan, Dampier's agent, is using the Hawks to get a maximum seventh year out of the Knicks. (Since Atlanta's offer is not a sign-and-trade, the Hawks aren't allowed to offer a seventh year under CBA rules).

On Saturday night, Thomas met with Fegan in Los Angeles and hatched a six-year deal starting at $9 million, with 12.5 percent yearly raises, totaling $65.2 M. If Fegan gets a seventh year out of the Knicks, the offer would jump to $76.5M, topping the Hawks.

Yesterday, Warriors GM Chris Mullin was ambiguous on whether he and the Knicks have a tentative agreement on a sign-and-trade, with center Nazr Mohammed and Othella Harrington the pawns.

Asked if he's talking exclusively to the Knicks, the Brooklyn-born Mullin said: "No. We're talking to several other teams. When something becomes clear, we're going to regroup and move from there."

In other words, if Dampier chooses Atlanta, the Warriors will be happy to let him walk and save on payroll, feeling Adonal Foyle is their answer at center.

It would be only in the best interests of their budget ?not their won-loss record ?to let Dampier flee without compensation. But if Mullin is going to add to payroll without shedding Nick Van Exel, he wants only a player who can help, not an expiring contract. That's why Mullin has interest in Mohammed." - Marc Berman

its all up to damp. if he wants the money and go to a rebuilding team with low fan support, then good for him. if he wants to be in a competitive team with the one of the top pg's and better team support, then go for the knicks.

For that a difference between the 2 offers, would would choose to spend 6 yrs in the *** of the league over of NYC ?

How true is all this? I mean, the Post says that NY and GS agreed to the sign-and-trade and that its all up to Dampier. The Daily News, and other articles too, says that we aren't really close to getting Dampier, that GS hasn't agreed to a deal and that the Pacers and Grizzlies can offer a better deal. How accurate are this reports? Is it posturing from the teams to say they aren't close? Is GS trying to see if the Pacers send Bender and the Grizzlies send Swift and are using NY? What's really happening? One day you are because the Knicks are very close to a deal, then the other you get when its reported that we aren't really close. Grr!