|
s3231
Posts: 23162
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 1/16/2004
Member: #544
USA
|
Posted by Bonn1997:
Posted by s3231:
"ATLANTA -- Golden State center Erick Dampier met with Atlanta Hawks general manager Billy Knight and new coach Mike Woodson on Monday in Salt Lake City, where the Hawks' summer league is playing.
But the free agent is unlikely to settle in Atlanta, ESPN's David Aldridge reports.
Dampier, a 6-foot-11 center who averaged 12.3 points and 12 rebounds last season, is weighing interest from the Hawks against a sign-and-trade offer from the New York Knicks.
According to Aldridge, it is unlikely that Dampier would accept Atlanta's offer, which is approximately $1 million less per season than what the Knicks offered to him.
The Knicks have structured a sign-and-trade deal with the Warriors that would have Golden State sign Dampier to a six-year contract, starting at $9 million per season, and then trade him to New York for forwards Nazr Mohammed and Othella Harrington.
Dampier, 29, opted out of the last two years of his contract to become a free agent, leaving more than $16 million on the table. He is coming off the most productive season in his eight-year career -- averaging a double-double while also blocking 1.85 shots in 32.5 minutes per game.
Dampier ranked fourth in the league in rebounding and seventh with 42 double-doubles. He has hired a new agent, Dan Fegan, who is based in Los Angeles."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1842804
Did he write this before or after the Warriors obtained Dale Davis?
The Aldridge article was written before the Dale Davis trade, this article however was written about the Davis trade (it also says Dampier should be coming to NY).
"OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors traded point guard Nick Van Exel to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday for forward Dale Davis and guard Dan Dickau.
Van Exel was injured for much of his only season with the Warriors, who acquired him from Dallas last summer in a trade involving Antawn Jamison. He averaged 12.6 points while playing just 39 games, leaving the team for good shortly after the All-Star break with a recurring knee injury.
Portland will be the fifth NBA team for Van Exel, whose future with Golden State probably ended when the Warriors signed point guard Derek Fisher to a six-year, $37 million contract last week. The Warriors also have Speedy Claxton under contract for next season.
"It's a situation that helps both teams, and it makes sense," said Tony Dutt, Van Exel's agent. "With Nick in this situation and kind of on the back end of his career, Portland has a chance to win right away, and that's a good place for him."
The trade is essentially a salary swap by both teams; Van Exel and Davis are in the last year of their deals.
Although the Warriors no longer needed Van Exel with Fisher coming in, they did need another veteran center to back up Adonal Foyle with free agent Erick Dampier likely leaving the team through free agency. Dampier is expected to agree to a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks this week.
Davis, who will make $10 million next season in the last year of his contract, averaged 4.4 points and 5.2 rebounds as the physical heart of Portland's defense last season. He spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers before being traded to the Blazers four years ago.
The veteran big man will be a valuable mentor for the young players in Golden State's frontcourt, including Troy Murphy and rookie Andris Biedrins. The Warriors are determined to be a big player in next season's free agent market, and his expiring contract will help Golden State clear salary cap room next summer.
Van Exel has a $12.7 million team option on his contract next season. It's unlikely that the Blazers will pick up the team option. The guard made an impression on the Trail Blazers two seasons ago when his scoring helped the Dallas Mavericks win a playoff series against Portland.
Although Van Exel has been a dependable scorer and playmaker and could be used at both guard positions, the deal doesn't make as much sense for the Blazers. They have Damon Stoudamire at the point along with lottery pick Sebastian Telfair. Telfair's so-so play in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league may have prompted the Blazers to look for more immediate depth at the position.
While the deal shores up their back court, it hampers their front court to a certain extent. Theo Ratliff is the starter, but he has a history of injuries. His only real backup now is Vladimir Stepania."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1843338
[Edited by - s3231 on 07/20/2004 22:01:57] "This is a very cautious situation that we're in. You have to be conservative in terms of using your assets and using them wisely. We're building for the future." - Zeke (I guess not protecting a first round pick is being conservative)
|
7/20/2004 9:16 PM
