Dampier the Second Best Center in the West maybe headed for the Heat.

[Indazone]

'Right behind Shaq' circa 2004

The Mavericks don't just have a center. Erick Dampier is, according to Erick Dampier, the best center in the Western Conference.

Dampier said he is the second-best center in the NBA, allowing Shaquille O'Neal an edge.

"I consider myself right behind Shaq," Dampier said. "Some people are going to say top three, but personally, I consider myself the second best."

Dampier traded to Charlotte for Tyson Chandler September 13th, 2010
http://www.thetwomangame.com/2010/07/the-end-of-the-erick-dampier-era/

Dampier waived by Charlotte September 14th, 2010
http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2010/9/14/1689055/erick-dampier-released-by

Now Dampier in 2010 unable to find a home might be headed over to join King James, Bosh and Wade in Miami. http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2010/09/will-the-miami-heat-lure-erick-dampier/

Will the Miami Heat Lure Erick Dampier?

According to the Miami Herald, there’s mutual interest between the two parties: “Sure, the Heat has about 28 feet of bodies committed to the center spot in the likes of 7-3 Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 6-9 Joel Anthony, 6-11 Jamaal Magloire and 6-10 Dexter Pittman. Each has either unique size or gifts. None is close to being the complete package that would make him the clear-cut anchor at the position. And that’s why Monday is the start of an intriguing period for the Heat. With training camp looming in a matter of days, there could soon be one big man on the market who has enough intangibles to garner a high level of Heat interest.

Monday essentially opens the official bidding for the services of Erick Dampier. Today marks the end of the 60-day period from which Dampier was dealt by Dallas to Charlotte, which can now trade the veteran center and his gold-mine of a $13 million, non-guaranteed contract. Dampier is highly likely to be released by any team that trades for him, meaning he’d end up a free-agent available at a drastically reduced price. Here’s where the Heat comes in, depending on how drastic a reduction Dampier is willing to accept. Despite four bodies at center, the Heat still has questions at the position.

Unfortunately, Riley only has the veteran’s minimum of $1.3 million to offer - and Dampier already reportedly has turned down more than that in some preliminary discussions on a new deal with Charlotte. But this is Miami. And there’s known to be mutual interest. In fact, Dampier has already told at least one long-time associate in his Jackson, Miss. hometown that Miami would be at the top of his list if he’s released. Dampier’s camp also indicated that to the Bobcats, who are convinced he’s likely headed for Miami if Charlotte can’t find a trade partner.”

Erick Dampier ladies and gentlemen :rollin

[Chomag]

Damp the second best of the west. Thats how sad the talent at the Center position is in the NBA today.

[resistanze]

Shaq: 'I've been playing like Erick Dampier'


WASHINGTON -- Shaquille O'Neal wasn't sure when he'd be back in the Miami Heat lineup after a bruised right thigh kept him out of a playoff game for the first time in his career.

O'Neal was scratched about 20 minutes before the tip-off of Thursday night's Game 3 between the Heat and the Washington Wizards. He watched Miami win 102-95 to take a 3-0 lead in the second-round series.

Through six postseason games, O'Neal has averaged 18 points, a career playoff low, and 8.2 rebounds.

"I know one day, I'm going to wake up and it's not going to be there," O'Neal said, referring to the soreness in his leg. "When that day comes, whoever we're playing, they're going to be in trouble ... I've been playing like Erick Dampier."

Dampier is the Dallas Mavericks center called out publicly by teammate Dirk Nowitzki after being outscored 40-0 by the Suns' Amare Stoudemire in Game 1 of their second-round series.

Ending nearly a week's boycott of speaking with reporters, O'Neal said he wanted to play Thursday, but, "I was ordered by the powers that be to take it easy."

"I looked bad the other night in the fourth quarter, and they didn't want it to get any worse," he added. "They have confidence in the team and so do I. The team just played fabulous today. That's a good sign."

The injury ended a streak of 164 consecutive playoff games for O'Neal, who had never missed a postseason game -- or even a start -- in 13 seasons with Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami.

He missed the last two games of the regular season with the same injury. His movement was limited in the first-round series against New Jersey and in the first two games against the Wizards.

"It's a medical decision, period," coach Stan Van Gundy said before the game. "It's never a good thing if you have to have one of your best players out. That's never a positive."

O'Neal scored 19 points in 26 minutes before fouling out in Game 1 on Sunday and was obviously laboring when he scored 16 points in 37 minutes in Game 2 on Tuesday.

Will he play in Game 4 on Saturday in Washington?

"I'm going to do my treatment tomorrow and then I'll let the powers look at it and they'll determine. I really didn't want to sit out. I told my guys that I'm going to be there -- one leg, half a leg, half a knee, I'm going to be there with them," O'Neal said. "But the powers grabbed me on the shoulder tonight and told me you don't look good. You look good in the suit, but you don't look good. We want you to take it easy."

A Heat official told ESPN's Michelle Tafoya the team may not play O'Neal to give him more time to heal.

While he sat on the sideline in a gold ensemble, Alonzo Mourning filled in quite capably, with 14 points and 13 rebounds against a depleted Wizards frontcourt.

Said Mourning: "I told him, 'If you're out, I'm going to do what I can to fill the void.' "

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2005/news/story?id=2059037

[Findog]

The signings of Bosh and LeBron were but a prelude to the biggest free-agent acquisition of the summer

[ohmwrecker]

Damp the second best of the west. Thats how sad the talent at the Center position is in the NBA today.

Tiago Splitter hasn't played one minute in the NBA and he is already better than Dampier.

[Latarian Milton]

ericka is roughly the 2nd worst center in the league now, only a hair above the 7'6 Mr. Shite who's been terminally paralyzed and won't even have a walk by his own power, meaning the once admirable Mr.Shite will probably stay in a wheelchair all the rest of his life.

[HeatChamps]

What can I say? We are loaded. We got a physical center to go along with our superstars. It will be too easy next year.

[Latarian Milton]

edit: the 5'1 Mr. Shite in wheelchair*

[Ace]

Luckily he only needs to defend and rebound. The Heat will have no problem scoring.

[elemento]

lol

this guy is a joke

[Halberto]

Luckily he only needs to defend and rebound. The Heat will have no problem scoring.

So he needs to become a different player...

[Killakobe81]

LOL Miami. Why not ATL or OKC? They need a center more than Miami does ...

[dirk4mvp]

So he needs to become a different player...

He's always been a great rebounder and defender when he doesn't look like he wants to take a nap on the court. Try to keep up next time.

[Killakobe81]

I know it's just international play. But if i am the Heat i play like coach K did. Loading up on big man actually plays in to Boston and Orlando hands who want to slow the game down. Plus it's gonna crowd the paint and clog driving lanes for two of the best slashers in the game. If iam playing them and they use a traditional center 2/3 pnr ... I would jump any screens he sets. Who cares if they throw the ball to Damp out top? To me the best play for the heat is a 3-2 pnr. IF a guy like pierce or Rashard is playing Lebron and they switch Wade takes take guy to the rack with ease. Or Lebron can bull the 2 guard in the paint. either way you have a mismatch. i think they should go small put bosh at center and FORCE other teams to match them.Why play a lesser player just to have size? Especially when Bosh, Lebron and wade are ALL good rebounders?

[Shank]

Douche.

[Ace]

So he needs to become a different player...
I know because he played for the Mavs you feel the need to bash him but lets not be ignorant.

[Danny.Zhu]

Just wait for "The Decision" by Dampier.

[Ashy Larry]

leave Damp alooooooooooooooone ...........

[Red Hawk #21]

I wonder what goes on in Erick Dampier's mind, he always has this blank look on his face. The guy looks like he doesn't give a flying fuck about basketball.

[Killakobe81]

I wonder what goes on in Erick Dampier's mind, he always has this blank look on his face. The guy looks like he doesn't give a flying fuck about basketball.

But couldnt the Hawks use Damp?

[HeatChamps]

leave Damp alooooooooooooooone ...........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

[Red Hawk #21]

But couldnt the Hawks use Damp?

Yes we could. *Sighs*

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Give the Heat the title now, no team can top the center rotation of Big Z and erick dampier......................

[duncan228]

Heat decide not to pursue Erick Dampier (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-heat-dampier)

The Miami Heat have decided not to offer a contract to free agent center Erick Dampier, who worked out for the team earlier this week.

Heat president Pat Riley said the team was intrigued by the possibility of adding the 35-year-old Dampier, who has spent the past 14 seasons in the league. Dampier played the last six seasons in Dallas, and was the Mavericks’ starter when that team lost to Miami in the 2006 NBA finals.

Miami decided not to move forward because it already has Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamaal Magloire and rookie Dexter Pittman signed at center.

Dampier became a free agent after his $13 million contract for this season was voided by the Charlotte Bobcats last week. He has had interest from several other clubs.

[timtonymanu]

LMAO Dampier.

[ogait]

Miami decided not to move forward because it already has Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamaal Magloire and rookie Dexter Pittman signed at center.


Lol stacked frontline.

But seriously Dampier would still be an upgrade over these guys maybe he goes to the Lakers now, at least he would have motivation to beat the Heat after this :lmao

[Ashy Larry]

Lol stacked frontline.

But seriously Dampier would still be an upgrade over these guys maybe he goes to the Lakers now, at least he would have motivation to beat the Heat after this :lmao


Lakers squad is already set .... someone has to do something really big in the pre-season and training camp to get on that roster.

[ogait]

Lakers squad is already set .... someone has to do something really big in the pre-season and training camp to get on that roster.

I know it is, i didn't say it as a realistic scenario. But it wouldn't take much to choose Dampier over Ratliff has your backup center if they could choose at this point.

[The Franchise]

Lol stacked frontline.
But seriously Dampier would still be an upgrade over these guys maybe he goes to the Lakers now, at least he would have motivation to beat the Heat after this :lmao

He will probably take the Rockets offer of 2 years at 2 million per. With Yao being limited to 24 minutes I can see the need for an extra 7 footer.

[rickross]

Lakers squad is already set .... someone has to do something really big in the pre-season and training camp to get on that roster.

yo mayne da heat is far superior. lakers is old scrubs and will have to give bjs for fts like any other team not named heat! fact!

go to heat.com to get your dwade jersey. we know you is fan too, stop hidin in the closet.
we is no1! we da best! we takin ova da league.

[duncan228]

Erick Dampier Considers Bucks, Rockets as Kyrylo Fesenko Waits (http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/09/25/erick-dampier-considers-bucks-rockets-as-kyrylo-fesenko-waits/)
By Sam Amick

Free agent center Erick Dampier is considering Houston and Milwaukee in the wake of his spurning in Miami (http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/09/25/miami-heat-elect-to-pass-on-signing-erick-dampier/), two sources close to the situation have told FanHouse.

Dampier was leaning heavily toward taking his talents to South Beach in recent days, but Heat president Pat Riley balked when he considered the potentially-challenging dynamic between his big men. So the Heat opted to enter the season with Joel Anthony, Jamaal Magloire and the newly-added Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and the 35-year-old Dampier now finds himself having to determine which of the many factors in his decision matters most.

It could be argued that Bucks offer the best basketball decision, as Dampier would see significant time playing behind center Andrew Bogut. He was told as much by Scott Skiles, according to the sources, as he spoke with the Bucks coach recently about how he would fit and was pleased with the tone of the discussion.

Houston, meanwhile, is far more uncertain in terms of his role in the rotation. Yao Ming is expected to be limited to 24 minutes per game as a precautionary measure (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7217075.html), but free agent signee Brad Miller is expected to be Yao's first backup and Chuck Hayes routinely slides over to the position.

The Rockets, however, have the clear financial edge. Whereas Milwaukee can only offer a veteran's minimum deal of $1.3 million for one season, Houston can offer its bi-annual exception worth a combined $4 million over two years, or a one-year deal if Dampier so prefers.

The Rockets have not presented Dampier with an offer, but they have made their genuine interest clear. The Bucks are believed to be ready to move forward with him as soon as he makes a decision.

Ukrainian center Kyrylo Fesenko is waiting in the wings, as the 7-foot-1, fourth-year pro has held off on signing a one-year, $1.03 million qualifying offer from Utah because he is still being seriously considered by the Rockets. If Dampier heads for Milwaukee or the Rockets simply make the 23-year-old Fesenko their top priority by late Sunday, the Jazz will have the opportunity to match any offer. While Dampier is clearly the known commodity, Fesenko -- who prefers to resolve the situation before the Jazz have Media Day on Monday and start training camp on Tuesday -- is clearly the long-term investment with plenty of upside.

Fesenko was good enough to help Utah win its first-round series against Denver last postseason despite the Jazz missing Mehmet Okur. The Jazz starter tore his left Achilles in Game 1, and Fesenko was the starter in the nine games that followed against the Nuggets and then the Lakers in a second-round loss.

[Venti Quattro]

Bucks? What is he going to do there? lol they're pretty big up front in Milwaukee IMO

[duncan228]

Erick Dampier says it's down to four teams, Portland now in mix (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/erick-dampier-says-its-down-to-four-teams-portland-now-in-mix.php)
By Kurt Helin

Erick Dampier made a decision, he wanted to take his backup center talents to South Beach, like everyone else. But for reasons not totally clear, Miami didn't want him (Damps is not a great center, but he's better than anyone they've got).

So he's taking his time making another decision. He told Sam Amick of FanHouse he's narrowing it down (http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/09/27/toronto-portland-added-to-dampiers-list-of-options/).


"I've talked to Milwaukee, Toronto, Portland, and one other team," he said after confirming talks with the Rockets as well. "There's no one in the No. 1 spot. I'm not in a rush. I just want to find the perfect fit and give myself an opportunity to compete for a championship."

If a ring is really the goal, you can see why the Rockets are in the mix -- they are a popular darkhorse pick by league pundits, and if Damps minutes can help keep Yao Ming healthy they are closer. However, Portland is right there and has more room for growth. They and Oklahoma City have positioned themselves as the teams to beat in the West after the Lakers step back (whenever that happens).

Dampier is in no rush.


"There's different scenarios, different teams every day," he said. "There's no timeline. As of a couple days ago, a couple other teams had reached out and are wanting to talk to me, so we'll probably go do interviews and sometime after that make a decision."

[lefty]

LOL Dampier thinks he is the shit

[ohmwrecker]

"I've talked to Milwaukee, Toronto, Portland, and one other team," he said after confirming talks with the Rockets as well. "There's no one in the No. 1 spot. I'm not in a rush. I just want to find the perfect fit and give myself an opportunity to compete for a championship.

He's funny.