Dampier to Heat almost a done deal

[Bankshot]

Didn't Dampier want to sign with the Heat at the beginning of the season, but the Heat didn't want him?  Am I remembering that correct?

[Fafnir]

Didn't Dampier want to sign with the Heat at the beginning of the season, but the Heat didn't want him?  Am I remembering that correct?

Yeah, Dampier wanted to be a heavy rotation player on a contending team. He wants another contract after this year.

The Heat passed at first.

[Roy H.]

Dampier should be able to bring some toughness, defense, and rebounding to the Heat.  However, their big man rotation is a mess right now.

Basically, none of their centers can double as a power forward; you can't have Dampier, Big Z, or Anthony in at the same time as each other.  That means you're stuck with Juwan Howard as your primary PF backup, which is far, far from ideal.

Now, when (or if) the Heat get fully healthy, Dampier will be a good addition, because they can run out a very good 5 man rotation of Dampier / Bosh / Haslem / Big Z / Anthony.  Those pieces are largely complementary.  However, by losing Haslem, the Heat are screwed until he comes back.

[Who]

Basically, none of their centers can double as a power forward; you can't have Dampier, Big Z, or Anthony in at the same time as each other.  That means you're stuck with Juwan Howard as your primary PF backup, which is far, far from ideal.

I think they can use Joel Anthony as PF alongside Big Z.

Ilgauskas has enough offensive ability and jump shooting to make that work offensively. Defensively, Anthony has enough quickness and athleticism to cover opposing PFs.

I would like to see Miami use LeBron James as their first choice backup PF though. Then J.Anthony. Then J.Howard.

[Celtics4ever]

Dampier is big but he has always been somewhat decent but never dominating but was good in 03-04.  He is at the end of his career and wanted to play for a contender.   The HEAT as presently constituted are not contenders.   This is a move of desperation.  They need to replace those 8 boards a game.  Trouble is, Hasleem has more mental toughness than Dampier really.  Dampier is coming off an injury and not in game shape.   I think this sets them back and blows up their chemistry even more for a month or two.  However, they got no where to go but up, eh?  This would have been a good move if they still had Hasleem but they still have a SF masquerading as a PF and still are weak inside.  Peeps were not knocking down his door to get him signed.

All this talk about toughness and Dampier is a joke right?   One guy is not going to fix a soft team especially Dampier.  He played for Dallas a historically soft team.  I don't see how people think he is that tough given his history.  Dallas has always been soft inside.  Shaq has his number, trust me.  Dampier brings zero rings to the table, another regular season winner and playoff choker just what they need with to go with LeBron.  Dampier has bad hands worse than Perkins without the good defense.  He is a big body that will clog the lane but he is soft as Kleenex.  He is not an effort player on either end though like Hasleem.   He is looking to win a title but wants to go to a contender because he doesn't have the tools to make someone a contender.  He can't create his own shot.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tgqv_dunking-on-eric-dampier_sport

It won't help their Big Three averaging 8 TO's a game, their poor shooting, playing to the level of their opponents and their pathetic ball movement.   These blokes had a sense of entitlement they really thought the world was going to cave in and bow out their feet.  The pundits fed their egos too.  But instead they have a mediocre fan base and are universally despised league wide.  Playing the games and executing is much harder than talking about them in the summer time.

Bottom line is LeBron is the Peyton Manning of the NBA without the great sense of humor and decent commercials.  He rules the stat lines, generally is excellent in the regular season but chokes when it matters.  He can be a thorn in your side, but he won't win many titles.  Thinking this will put them over the top is wishful thinking by a lot of closet LeBron fans and the guys who thought they would be all world.  He doesn't care about W's and that is the problem just watch his body langauge after a loss.

[Fafnir]

Basically, none of their centers can double as a power forward; you can't have Dampier, Big Z, or Anthony in at the same time as each other.  That means you're stuck with Juwan Howard as your primary PF backup, which is far, far from ideal.

I think they can use Joel Anthony as PF alongside Big Z.

Ilgauskas has enough offensive ability and jump shooting to make that work offensively. Defensively, Anthony has enough quickness and athleticism to cover opposing PFs.

I would like to see Miami use LeBron James as their first choice backup PF though. Then J.Anthony. Then J.Howard.

Anthony would have probably have issues with more perimeter oriented PFs, but that could work.

But yeah using LeBron as their backup PF is their best option.