Rockets also pursuing Dampier (UPDATE: Rockets make 2-year offer)

Wow... I can't believe we might be starting the season with two veteran big men backing up Yao. Two big men with different skill sets. Too freaky!

 

It probably more has to do with him playing for our rivals in the Mavpricks more than anything else.

Either way, he was the least tool on that team. Way better than Irk Nowitzki or Jason Fairy.

 

I agree with YY, and 2 million bucks for 2 years, why not?

DD

 

Two things puzzle me. Why do people think that Dampier would come here? Why do people think Dampier and Fesenko are comparable players?

As for the first, Dampier has made nearly $100 million over his basketball career. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dampier01.html (scroll to the bottom for player salaries) Now it's true that Dampier could be taking money management lessons from Antoine Walker, but $100 million to me says he's not going to sweat the extra 1 million a year the Rockets can give him over the Heat. Particularly when the Heat are as close to a lock to make the Finals as I've seen in a very long time, and Dampier has no ring.

As for the second, though I've hated Dampier ever since I watched the way he slouched his way through seven years at Golden State, statistically he's a much, much better player than Fesenko. As you all have accurately noted, he wasn't worth the ridiculous contract he had in Dallas, but he's not bad as a back-up center. And Fesenko's been in the Association for three years; he's not some tall Euro that no one has film/data on and that we can all talk ourselves into that he's going to be great. Hey, maybe he'll go to Big Man Camp and figure the NBA out, but right now, is he a better bet than Dampier? Especially since neither is going to be anything more than a stop-gap while we wait for the Rockets to decide if they want to fish or cut bait with Yao.

 

Can't hurt. Fills part of the big man need in case Yao is out and removes void of putting the importance all on Hill or Miller to step up. Ideally, Hayes will be the defensive specialist that he's perfect for. Not big minutes.

Dampier can be the veteran that can teach the younger guys with Miller the small tricks of the game in the post.

Some of you will call Barry a bust due to his performance on the court, but I'm sure he passed along a lot of knowledge to some of our guards that is being used today. Brooks and Lowry learned from Barry.

Dampier/Miller will do that for some of the bigs.

 

Barry was instrumental in the development of Brooks 2 seasons ago

Dampier never seemed to me the type to 'coach' younger players but having him on the roster at that price will only help the team. if he for whatever reason acts out they trade him which shouldnt be hard or waive him and just eat his small salary as a mistake and move on

 

I don't get it either. I think it has to do with Dampier's performance slipping considerably after he got a big contract. That can be perceived as laziness or not caring. His proclamation that he was the second best center in the league after Shaq also probably didn't sit well with Rockets fans.

 

Right now I recognize the need for another competent big man, so yeah bring on the 2nd best WNBA center...

 

I really don't think he slipped that much if you compare his contract year to his Dallas years. Mostly, he got less minutes but he was essentially the same player.

His shot attempts went down, but his offensive efficiency actually went up, showin that he's a pretty limited offensive player who can be efficient in a limited role (his TO is terrible, but that's can be offset by the other stuff he does).

His rebounding has been very good, even though down from the number he got in the contract year -- but his huge GSW rebounding number had more to do with the lack of a competent rebounder alongside him (check out the GSW roster that year). His shot blocking and defense are about the same.

His D is pretty solid given the right matchups. He's probably slower now, but that's just aging. I really don't think Dampier is lazy, he is just what he is.

The "Second Best Center" controversy is kind of silly. He was a FA, just tooting his own horns. Sure maybe it's not true, but so what. No skin off anyone's back.

 

Don't the bolded parts of your quote really favor his going to a team like the Heat? The Heat don't need him to score, or do anything other than harvest boards and play D (his plus/minus was pretty good for Dallas last year), and thereby make sure they never have to play the re-animated corpse of Ilgauskas. (Or have Bosh play the 5 and possibly break a nail.)

 

Sure, he fits the Heat's needs-- that's why they are pursuing him. The question is whether the Heat fits his (personal and professional) needs.

 

There's simply no rational basis to oppose this signing.

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl...(chron.com+-+Top+Stories)&utm_content=Twitter

 

Wait until he goes to Miami for his workout there, Riley will make the pitch about being part of making bball history and meet the big 3 plus he's a better fit in Miami. I don't see him coming to Houston to become a 2nd banana to Yao. Really surprised there are no other teams that would want to pay him a big chunk of their mle for him. The Knicks signed this kid Mozgov to a 3yr 9M deal, Dampier is worth at least as much as an unproven Euro center.

 

have you seen Dampier play basketball. He's really sucks. Jeffries will make more money next season than Dampier.

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-erick-dampier-092010,0,2703149.story

In possession of quantity at center but not necessarily the type of quality needed for extended playoff success, the Miami Heat reportedly is poised to take a look at free-agent Erick Dampier.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Dampier worked out with members of the Houston Rockets on Monday and is scheduled to work at the Toyota Center again Tuesday, before he is scheduled to move on to South Florida.

Dampier, 35, was released last week by the Charlotte Bobcats in a cost-cutting move.

The Rockets, who are planning to sit injury-prone center Yao Ming on the second nights of back-to-back games this season and utilize him for only 24 minutes per game when he is available, have a standing offer of two years at $4 million on the table for Dampier.


The Heat, which has only the veteran minimum to offer, would be limited to a two-year, $2.8 million offer.

The Heat already has four centers under guaranteed contract, with Joel Anthony expected to start, backed up by veterans Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Jamaal Magloire, as well as Dexter Pittman, the burly big man taken out of the University of Texas in the second round of the June NBA Draft.

Dampier would add the type of bulk Anthony lacks and is viewed at this stage of his career as somewhat more productive off the boards and defensively than Ilgauskas.

Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra both have stressed in recent days their belief that the Heat already has enough in the middle in support of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

 

Agree, it would be nice to finally have a big team again. Having Miller and Dampier would definetly prolong Yao's career.

 

Rockets are going to kick ass

Rocket River

 

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/local/decision-from-dampier-is-imminent

 

Dampier in Rockets red?





The horror... the horror...