HAWKS HOLD KEY TO DAMPIER DEAL PHOENIX ? The longer Erick Damp ier remains a free agent, the more it appears the Warriors aren't about to cooperate with the Knicks, Pacers, Grizzlies or Hawks regarding a sign-and-trade. Hey, considering the Knicks' offer is Nazr Mohammed or Dikembe Mutombo in addition to Othella Harrington, who can blame them? I mean, how many backup centers/power forwards (Adonal Foyle/Dale Davis) can Chris Mullin accrue in one cost-ineffective summer? Which leads us to another prickly problem; can anyone identify a Warriors big man (or shorter) remotely capable of drawing a double team in the low docks? Since such a species does not exist, how does rookie coach Mike Montgomery plan to get Derek Fisher the kind of unmolested perimeter looks he needs to get off? Surely opponents realize it won't be wise to swarm Mike Dunleavy, who can find the open man but isn't all that dangerous, and, at the same time, recognize the rewards of attacking official scorer Jason Richardson, who either can't or won't pass. Drilling uncontested 3's is the extent of Fisher's offense. Since there isn't any talk about Shaq, Tim Duncan or Hakeem enrolling in Golden State, why would Mullin invest anything vaguely close to $37 million over six seasons ? two more than the Sonics were offering and even that was overly generous ? in an understudy who, by the way, was promised a starting spot? Especially since you've already got a more accomplished playmaker/infiltrator in (granted, injury prone) Speedy Claxton? Just because you're a clever player doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be a clever executive. What remains to be seen is whether Isiah Thomas, or Donnie Walsh, or Jerry West is able to take advantage of Mullin's inexperience regarding Dampier. So far, no go. So far, Mullin seems disinclined to broker a deal where he gains nothing but future cap space in the form of players owning expiring contracts; although that concept certainly worked wonders for the Nuggets. Not that Dampier's suitors have ditched their game plan. The Knicks still feel they've got a decent chance of acquiring the NBA's strongest man this side of Shaq because the 30-year-old player wants to play in New York, and when a player and a team have eyes for each other, things have a way of working out. You'd think the only way that could happen is by going through Mullin, but you'd be mistaken. An option is go through the Hawks, who've got plenty of cap space because they've got plenty of roster space. While Dampier's not enthusiastic about performing in Atlanta's echo chamber, if he wants to quadruple the nearly $17M forfeited by opting out of his two-year Warrior contract he may be forced to sign with the Hawks long term. <u>Why would they help out a player whose reputation for being unmotivated when his team is struggling, except when his deal is about to run out precedes him on the fast break? ("I'd only bring him in on a day-to-day contract," one of Dampier's former supervisors stressed.) Because the Hawks can help themselves by swapping him for a couple of registered adults. </u> Following a league required 45-day wait once the season gets under way, Dampier would be eligible to be re-routed. Anywhere. That's his predicament. Once he signs, his final destination is out of his control. He's much more likely to wind up in Memphis (the Grizz evidently have what the Hawks want; sources say there's already a deal in place) or Indiana than in ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^New York. http://www.nypost.com/sports/25525.htm Yeah we know it's NY post but read the 2nd to the last paragraph.
