No suprise, national media starting to acknowledge

[flava]

No suprise, the national media starting to acknowledge our lead role in the Dampier race and the fact that, given the money he gave up, he'll come to ATL for the money and money alone. Then, we trade him!

flava

Isiah takes last shot at Dampier

BY MITCH LAWRENCE

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Their chances are considered slim, if not none, but the Knicks could find out as soon as today if Erick Dampier is going to wind up as their starting center for next season.

Returning to work after moving into his Westchester home last week, team president Isiah Thomas is expected to talk to Dampier and his agent, Dan Fegan, in what could be a last-ditch effort to work the impossible.

For nearly two months, Thomas has been unable to work a sign-and-trade with Golden State, and nothing has changed on that front. The Warriors have no interest in Kurt Thomas or anyone else that Thomas has offered. So Isiah Thomas somehow will have to convince Dampier to take the mid-level exception, starting at around $5 million, rather than the four-year, $40 million standing offer that the Atlanta Hawks have on the table.

Several league sources said that Dampier, 30, who walked away from $17 million that he had coming to him from the Warriors over the next two years in order to gain his free agency this summer, is not about to pass up the Hawks' money.

Memphis has also tried to land Dampier, who attended the Grizzlies' two home playoff losses to San Antonio and comes from Monticello, Miss. But as much as team president Jerry West wants to get him and move Pau Gasol to power forward, the Grizzlies have been unable to strike a deal with the Warriors. One person with knowledge of the trade talks said last night that Memphis is out of the running, adding, "We all expect Dampier to go to Atlanta. They've got more money than anybody else."

Other than getting the 6-11 Dampier, whom many see as a good rebounder but a career underachiever, the Knicks have no other options to upgrade at center. They might have to go into the season again starting the 6-10 Nazr Mohammed, who is more suited to coming off the bench as a reserve power forward.

While Thomas keeps his fingers crossed on Dampier, the Knicks are almost certain to re-sign Vin Baker this week. The two sides have had an agreement for the last several weeks, with the backup forward expected to get a two-year deal worth slightly more than $3.2 million. Baker's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said yesterday that Baker and the Knicks should make it formal tomorrow or Wednesday, regardless of what happens with Dampier. Only Cleveland has shown interest in Baker during the offseason.

[f_town]

[DominiqueWilkins]

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You want a center that doesn't even want to be a Hawk, but is only going to sign for the money?

[Diesel]

No we're not his first choice... however, if the money was to his liking, we would be his first choice. You have to understand that this is a business. Everybody has motives. Even Walker and Harrington. Can you say that either really wanted to be here.... I mean, their motives were playing time and exposure. Walker wants to show that he's still a player. He will do the same thing that Damp did last season. SO stop all this he doesn't want to be here talk. Every player has a motive.

The thing that we should look at is that NO team save Chicago has won a championship without a dominate C or C like player.

When you look at Walker, he's a forward but not in the mold of Ben Wallace. He can't dominate the boards. IF we get Damp, we should rejoice.

[macdaddy]

News flash. 90% of the league only signs for the money. He can become dedicated once he gets here.

Wouldn't you wait until all offers are out there before making a decision?

[Diesel]

Exactly.

I don't know why some of these guys think any player would all the sudden become Atlanta Loyalist. We have been a winning team in 5 yrs. We trade for Good players. Do they really want to be here? I guess it will take a Damp press conference before some of these guys start to like him. Right now, Damp has HIS future to consider. We have a lowball offer out there and it's all that he has to work with. He has to consider his options very carefully. But he's still a force.

[AHF]

I'm still not a real Dampier fan and think he probably won't be better than what he was last year, but signing him on a short term deal (3-4 years) would not be bad - especially for the market we've seen this offseason. 4 years and $40 million would look like a big bargain compared to some of the other contracts out there.

[flava]

signing Damp for a pre-arranged trade is a win-win situation. to the lay person, we sign a big free agent. the trade we work out will surely net us a good player(s).

flava