Wizards show interest in free agent Dampier By John N. Mitchell THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Washington Wizards are one of "at least eight teams" that have expressed interest in signing unrestricted free agent center Erick Dampier, two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed. The 6-foot-11, 270-pound Dampier had the best season of his career for the Golden State Warriors in 2003-04. He was one of just 12 players in the league who averaged a double-double, finishing with 12.3 points, 12 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game. Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld was unavailable last night for comment. Grunfeld, however, does not comment publicly on player-personnel issues. Other teams that have expressed interest in signing Dampier are the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks, according to one of the sources. Dampier has said he prefers to play for a team with playoff potential. Dampier, who was a teammate of current Wizards Gilbert Arenas, Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison in Golden State, would not come cheaply for the Wizards, who are about $5 million below the projected $45 million salary cap for next season. Because of the lack of quality centers in the league, any team that signs Dampier likely will overpay for his services. Dampier opted out of the final two years on his deal, leaving roughly $17 million on the table. Dampier, 29, reportedly is looking for at least $10-12 million a year over the next four or five seasons. http://washtimes.com/sports/20040707-123355-3191r.htm
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UltimateWarrior:</div><div class="quote_post">Damp wont go there with Arenas and Jamison there. He knows he'll probally never get the ball.</div>Yea, he would be stupid to go there. He might make them a playoff team but they would never get out of the first round.
We could sign him for like $4.5m this year, then each year would be like $12m per year with increases. That way, it would not count very much against our cap this year, then the rest of his contract will count against the team we trade him to. I wouldnt think he would go to Washington just because of Arenas and Jamison with what he said about them after they left. But if they give him the most money, he will go there.
Unfortunately, that contract does not work. There's a maximum increase rule and $4.5 to 12 million is about 300% increase. I believe the increase for the W's to resign is 12.5% and for other teams, its 10% (simple interest of the base year.)
Let me guess Zhone is either a sports agent or he is a lawyer who happens to read the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for fun.
Haha, way to get off-topic. I'm just a law student, and I have a secret never-will-be-fulfilled desire to be an NBA scout or GM. I put a joke about being an agent in my profile because I thought it fit. (Bob Woolf was one of the greatest agents, and Bird's agent. He represented many different people. Also, I go to the law school that produced insane baseball agent Scott Boras.) I love the game, but I also like building teams, that's why I enjoy the draft and enjoyed the expansion drafts, including the Bobcats. If I keep reading the CBA and stuff, who knows, maybe I'll hang onto a sports agency. I rather do some real hands-on work, i.e. public sector work, though.
Arenas and Jamison are the two guys Damp hated most when they were with the Warriors, so I can't see him agreeing to a S&T with Washington even if there was a gun to his head. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Well man he's not going to get signed and traded like he wanted. Not after the Foyle signing.</div> I don't quite follow you here. The way I see it, the Foyle signing means Damp is more likely to get S&T'd. Damp knows the Warriors aren't going to sign him and keep him and the fact that Okur and Foyle got big contracts should probably mean Damp thinks he's worth at least as much, so he's not going to settle for an MLE with any team. If Damp does agree to a S&T, I'd prefer to get expring contracts and future picks back. The only reason I'd want to take on a long term contract (basicaly anything over 2 years that isn't a rookie contract) is if the Warriors are getting a potential all star. If Mullin can't get that, then I'd prefer to see him use the cap room on a big time free agent next year.
I guess Mullin is all like "let's screw the salary cap then". If we take on Dampier and sign him we'll have two very overpaid centers. Sheesh. Man I don't know what to say. We just hopefully better have the value to be able to trade them later on and won't tank like Fortson. Here's the thing: I like Foyle and I'm not as upset as others that they overpaid him, but I'm wondering what direction this team is going if the cap isn't going to work on getting the free agent we want (Yao, etc. or if someone we want can't get signed even though we got the cap space for it)
I'm sure Mullin is trying to get contracts that expire this year and/or draft picks. Unfortunately, that's what nearly every other GM is trying to get. Teams that sign Damp probably either have their teams set 2-3 years, or believe that they're a big man away from contending. Not only that, but salary has to match up. Thus, I really doubt that there will be anything spectacular. If they're expiring contracts, I don't mind simple role players to fill out our rosters. Not much we can do as fans but wait and see.
The Warriors can still sign and trade Damp independent of Foyle because Dampier is a free agent with "Larry Bird" rights attached. Whether the Warriors want to eat up cap space for who they get back is the key. Damp is going to get around $10M per year so who has $10M in contracts that are desirable? Probably Memphis with Mike Miller, Bonzi, etc.
I hope isn't Miller, because even if he's an OK player, his contract is downright scary. It's about $50 mil for 6 more years. I'm not a fan of Bonzi either, who's got an expiring contract at about $8 million but his mental makeup is questionable at best.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting UltimateWarrior:</div><div class="quote_post">Damp wont go there with Arenas and Jamison there. He knows he'll probally never get the ball.</div> I don't think Dampier would mind that at all, unless it was a contract year of course
He complained pretty openly during the 2002-2003 season about never getting involved in the offense with Jamison and Arenas always hogging the ball. It came along with his Musselhead comments. It was something like "Whenever I got up the court, someone would take a shot and I'd have to run back down again." Now that he's "proven" maybe he'll get the ball more. However his numbers would really benefit on a half-court oriented team because then he'll get plays run for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting custodianrules2:</div><div class="quote_post">Would you give up Jonathan Bender or Ron Artest for him? </div> Why should we? we can just offer him some of our big guys and cash.
