Closing in on deals for...

Dampier and Hassell:

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

By PETER VECSEY and MARC BERMAN

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.




http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3047401,00.html

Nuggets to go for broke in trying to get Hassell
Signing free agent would max out cap, but pursuit a priority

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News July 19, 2004

SALT LAKE CITY - Trenton Hassell or bust.

Actually, the Denver Nuggets gladly would go bust if it means adding Hassell.

With $2.3 million remaining to spend on free agents, the Nuggets have made Hassell the top priority as they try to land a versatile swingman who can add depth to the backcourt.

"There is no Plan B," one Denver official said Sunday, perhaps only half joking.

With the Nuggets, there always is a backup plan, but for the moment, general manager Kiki Vandeweghe and his staff are trying to figure out how they can snatch away Hassell from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hassell is a restricted free agent, meaning Minnesota can match any contract offer he receives.

The Timberwolves have indicated they will do just that - up to a certain amount. The New Jersey Nets sang the same refrain about power forward Kenyon Martin.

The Nuggets will introduce Martin at a news conference today at the Pepsi Center.

In addition to the Timberwolves and Nuggets, Hassell is drawing interest from the Portland Trail Blazers.

"It changes day to day," his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. "There's a lot of people that would like to get him. In terms of what's going to happen, it's hard to say.

"The Nuggets are a terrific team. I think he'd be a great fit with them in a lot of ways."

Waived by the Chicago Bulls before last season, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Hassell is a prime example of how a player's stock quickly can go from Enron to eBay.

While drawing the NBA minimum salary of $638,679, he averaged a modest 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds for the Timberwolves but made a name for himself as a defensive stopper.

During Minnesota's first-round playoff series against Denver, Hassell was instrumental in containing Carmelo Anthony, and Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik has made no secret about his desire to obtain a lockdown defender at shooting guard and small forward.

Regardless of who that player turns to be - or not to be - Vandeweghe wants to move forward quickly.

The Nuggets still have three roster spots to fill and would like to spend their remaining $2.3 million, which then would allow them to add any number of minimum-salary players without regard to the salary cap.

"We'd like to get it sewed up as soon as possible," Vandeweghe said.

If Hassell does not help Vande- weghe tie up the loose ends, that figures to increase the importance of re-signing shooting guard Jon Barry.

Barry provided energy and leadership off the bench last season and has grown attached to the Denver area. After making $3 million in 2003-04, he probably would have to take a pay cut to return.

"I'm hoping Kiki gives him a chance," Barry's father, Rick, said. "They're not going to have a to pay Jon a lot of money. I think he would come back and play for a reasonable amount if they gave him a commitment for two years."

Vandeweghe said he has been talking to Barry's agent, as well as the agents for Nuggets unrestricted free-agent forwards Rodney White and Ryan Bowen.

For now, decisions on all three are on the back burner until the Nuggets get Hassell. Or bust.