Erick Dampier waived; won't be joining Heat (merged)

[mgent]

This is probably what made me think 14:
http://www.peninsulaismightier.com/2010/8/31/1661490/heat-add-dasean-butler-to-the-mix

No clue how accurate they are.

[Lucky17]

It leaves the Bobcats with uncertainty at center and point guard. Chandler, who was acquired last year from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor, had an injury-plagued season with Charlotte and the Bobcats used Theo Ratliff as the starting center in the playoffs. Ratliff is gone, leaving Nazr Mohammed the likely starter going into training camp.

The Bobcats also lost starting point guard Raymond Felton to New York in free agency. D.J. Augustin, last season's backup, and newly signed Shaun Livingston will contend for the job unless Charlotte makes anther move.

Does Charlotte still have the MLE at its disposal? I can't see Larry Brown happy with the Augustin/Livingston platoon. Nor with Nazr Mohammed the lone center on the roster.

I said it yesterday: why not offer Iverson a million dollars/vet minimum to play for them? He could contend for starting minutes (at PG), he's played for Larry Brown before, the Bobcats need the help, it's a win-win.

[Who]

It leaves the Bobcats with uncertainty at center and point guard. Chandler, who was acquired last year from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor, had an injury-plagued season with Charlotte and the Bobcats used Theo Ratliff as the starting center in the playoffs. Ratliff is gone, leaving Nazr Mohammed the likely starter going into training camp.

The Bobcats also lost starting point guard Raymond Felton to New York in free agency. D.J. Augustin, last season's backup, and newly signed Shaun Livingston will contend for the job unless Charlotte makes anther move.

Does Charlotte still have the MLE at its disposal? I can't see Larry Brown happy with the Augustin/Livingston platoon. Nor with Nazr Mohammed the lone center on the roster.

I said it yesterday: why not offer Iverson a million dollars/vet minimum to play for them? He could contend for starting minutes (at PG), he's played for Larry Brown before, the Bobcats need the help, it's a win-win.

I think I read somewhere that Charlotte had $2.2 million available + that they offered that to Dampier and he refused the deal. Damp wanted to pursue his FA opportunities instead.

I don't think Damp necessarily said better money though. Just more money than $2.2mil to play for a non-contender I reckon.

-------------------------------------------------

Charlotte signed Kwame Brown to be their backup center + still have DeSagana Diop on their roster to backup Nazr Mohammed.

[Lucky17]

It leaves the Bobcats with uncertainty at center and point guard. Chandler, who was acquired last year from New Orleans for Emeka Okafor, had an injury-plagued season with Charlotte and the Bobcats used Theo Ratliff as the starting center in the playoffs. Ratliff is gone, leaving Nazr Mohammed the likely starter going into training camp.

The Bobcats also lost starting point guard Raymond Felton to New York in free agency. D.J. Augustin, last season's backup, and newly signed Shaun Livingston will contend for the job unless Charlotte makes anther move.

Does Charlotte still have the MLE at its disposal? I can't see Larry Brown happy with the Augustin/Livingston platoon. Nor with Nazr Mohammed the lone center on the roster.

I said it yesterday: why not offer Iverson a million dollars/vet minimum to play for them? He could contend for starting minutes (at PG), he's played for Larry Brown before, the Bobcats need the help, it's a win-win.

I think I read somewhere that Charlotte had $2.2 million available + that they offered that to Dampier and he refused the deal. Damp wanted to pursue his FA opportunities instead.

I don't think Damp necessarily said better money though. Just more money than $2.2mil to play for a non-contender I reckon.

-------------------------------------------------

Charlotte signed Kwame Brown to be their backup center + still have DeSagana Diop on their roster to backup Nazr Mohammed.

Ah, that's right. I'd forgotten about both of them.

So, $2.2 million available to acquire a free agent PG.

[slamtheking]

smart move for Dampier if he does it.  best shot at a title he'll get in what little playing time he has left.

[moiso]

Dampier to the Heat would be very bad for the Celtics.  The one clear advantage that we have over them right now is the ability to punish them down low and on the boards.  Dampier would partially negate our biggest advantage that we have over the Heat.  I was counting on Miami having all scrubs at the center position!

[Roy H.]

``They have some good, young talent down there and can do a lot of big things,'' Dampier said. ``Obviously, I want to be in a situation to compete for a championship. I haven't talked to my agent yet, so we'll go from there. But I've kept myself in good shape for 14 years, and still feel like I can play the game at a high level.''

Miami, Denver and Chicago have been mentioned as having the most interest in Dampier, who has averaged 7.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over his 14 seasons in the league. Phoenix and Atlanta had also been looking for a defensive-minded center, a role Dampier played on the Mavericks' team that lost to Miami in the 2006 Finals.


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/15/1824986/dampier-released-by-bobcats-is.html#ixzz0zbP8B2Az

[More Banners]

If he goes to the Heat instead of somewhere else for more minutes/money I'm definitely down on beating the Heat this year....

Yeah, unfortunately Dampier is the perfect type of player for them.  Good defense, good rebounding, a mean streak, no ego. 

While they'd be better with Damp than with who they have now, he is so incredibly poor defensively (esp. on rotations and help) that I'd throw a signing party in Boston for him going to Miami.  The only thing is that his hands are still good enough to catch and score unopposed down low, which will make it harder to help off of him.  But good defense--not in years, if ever.

[Roy H.]

If he goes to the Heat instead of somewhere else for more minutes/money I'm definitely down on beating the Heat this year....

Yeah, unfortunately Dampier is the perfect type of player for them.  Good defense, good rebounding, a mean streak, no ego. 

While they'd be better with Damp than with who they have now, he is so incredibly poor defensively (esp. on rotations and help) that I'd throw a signing party in Boston for him going to Miami.  The only thing is that his hands are still good enough to catch and score unopposed down low, which will make it harder to help off of him.  But good defense--not in years, if ever.

I think you're totally wrong on this one.  Dampier is a good defender, and a very good rebounder. 

[nba is the worst]

smart move for Dampier if he does it.  best shot at a title he'll get in what little playing time he has left.

I agree - but I hope a team (like the Cavs, for instance) who basically has no starting center makes him a 3X bigger offer than the Heat can, so we can see if money > the chance at a title in South Beach...

[moiso]

If he goes to the Heat instead of somewhere else for more minutes/money I'm definitely down on beating the Heat this year....

Yeah, unfortunately Dampier is the perfect type of player for them.  Good defense, good rebounding, a mean streak, no ego. 

While they'd be better with Damp than with who they have now, he is so incredibly poor defensively (esp. on rotations and help) that I'd throw a signing party in Boston for him going to Miami.  The only thing is that his hands are still good enough to catch and score unopposed down low, which will make it harder to help off of him.  But good defense--not in years, if ever.

I think you're totally wrong on this one.  Dampier is a good defender, and a very good rebounder. 

Yep.  Good defender and rebounder.  And he's physically strong and tough.  I was counting on being able to bully Miami's front line.  Dampier won't be bullied.

[moiso]

smart move for Dampier if he does it.  best shot at a title he'll get in what little playing time he has left.

I agree - but I hope a team (like the Cavs, for instance) who basically has no starting center makes him a 3X bigger offer than the Heat can, so we can see if money > the chance at a title in South Beach...

The Heat really have no starting center either.  Damp will have as big a role on the Heat as he would with a bad team like the Cavs. 

[GreenFaith1819]

If MIA gets Damp, then it makes them tougher, but not unbeatable. If we had not signed Shaq, then I'd be worried. But as it stands now, I think we have enough length (and width ) to throw at them, even with Damp potentially going to MIA.

[LilRip]

getting Damp would be huge for the Heat. I hope he goes to Denver or the Thunder or something. He's not great, but he should start in Miami. Joel Anthony registers a lot of blocks but he's not a particularly good defender or rebounder and he has zero-offensive game.



- LilRip

[guava_wrench]

Dampier on the Heat would make them a significantly more formidable team.  Their roster is full, but they'd be smart to sign Dampier if they had the opportunity.  I'd cut Magloire or Pittman.

I thought they still have one more spot.

Right now, they have:

C:  Anthony / Big Z / Magloire / Pittman
PF: Bosh / Haslem / Howard
SF: Lebron / Miller
SG: Wade / Jones / House
PG: Arroyo / Chalmers / Beverley

Those are the 15 guys who I believe have fully guaranteed deals.  Then, they have Shavlik Randolph ($250k guaranteed), Kenny Hasbrouk ($250k guaranteed) and Da'Sean Butler (non-guaranteed).

I doubt the Heat would hesitate to waive Beverley, Randolph, etc. if it meant adding Dampier.

Didn't think Beverley was guaranteed.

I don't know how he pulled it off, but reportedly he is.  I guess the Heat are far enough below the luxury tax that they're willing to give out some guaranteed or mostly guaranteed minimum deals to get guys into training camp.

Looking at the Heat payroll, it is obvious they will make boatloads of profit this year.