Dampier Wants to Be in Memphis

Dampier gives Griz green light
Center wants to be near home in Miss.

By Ronald Tillery
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July 1, 2004

The Grizzlies' biggest target in free agency won't be too difficult to locate.

At the moment, they can practically hear him coming.

Erick Dampier sounds as though he's as interested in the Griz as they are in him. All that stands between the Mid-South native and a deal are the correct terms, which can be negotiated beginning today when NBA teams allowed to talk to - but not sign - free agents.

Dampier, a 6-11 center, played for Golden State last season and has been on the Grizzlies' wish list for nearly a year.

The feeling is mutual.

Dampier said Wednesday that while becoming an unrestricted free agent affords him several options, he'd liked to play for Memphis - close to his Jackson, Miss., home.

"I could be a very important piece for them," Dampier said by telephone Wednesday.

The Grizzlies are over the salary cap and have just a mid-level exception (roughly $5 million) to spend on free agents.

They likely will seek to acquire Dampier in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Warriors.

That would allow Dampier, 29, to possibly receive the deal he reportedly wants: a long-term contract beginning in the $10 million range.

Past attempts to acquire Dampier through trade fell apart for the Griz at the 11th hour.

The Grizzlies' stated goals are to improve in defensive rebounding, interior defense and perimeter shooting.

"Our primary goal is for a big guy. Our primary wish is for a big guy," Griz president Jerry West said Tuesday when asked about the team's off-season plan. "We're going to try to be aggressive. We have to go get our coach (Hubie Brown) another player that will help make a difference."

The Griz will have competition for Dampier.

At least a half-dozen suitors will try to land Dampier, who would have earned nearly $17 million over the next two years had he not opted to become an unrestricted free agent.

Indiana, Miami, Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in the former Mississippi State star. Dampier said if he didn't return to the Warriors, "we'd definitely be looking for a sign-and-trade."

"I'm going to take my time and explore all of my options," Dampier said.

He has hired a new agent, Dan Fegan, to facilitate a favorable deal.

Dampier is coming off his best professional season. He averaged 7.3 defensive rebounds in 74 games. Overall, Dampier averaged 12.3 points, 12 boards and 1.8 blocks - statistics only rivaled by his second (1997-98) NBA season.

Such inside work has compelled Bonzi Wells, Jason Williams, Lorenzen Wright and James Posey to try recruiting Dampier since the season ended.

"I came and checked the team out," Dampier said, referring to his visit to The Pyramid during the playoffs in April. "I have a lot of friends there, and it will be close to home. Plus, I l

I've been saying this for a while now and I knew West was going to go after him. I just dont know who we would trade. Most likely he would come here other than those other places and I know if West wants him he will do whatever it takes, but not to break up the whole team though.

that'd be great for dampier and the grizzlies.
memphis needs a center like him!

lets just hope he produces like last year
*cant help to be pessimstic(sp) since last year was his only 'great' season in his whole career (as in stats were never close as last years)

Yea I hope so too. I think he will come on though because JW or Hubie won't put up with him not producing as he was last year.

man, jerry west is doing a great job with memphis. I wished they hadn't betrayed the greatest city in the world. just goes to show that jerry west is a winning formula.

would he accept a role off the bench behind Pau Gasol?

No he is playing C. Pau plays PF.

hmmm, $10mill, that's a lot for a guy like him......I'd make an offer of $8mill max

if they will sign and trade dampier, who do you think memphis will give in their roster that warrior want. like swift or wright?

i'd say they would be more eager to ship out Swift

does anybody think Grizz will trade either Mike Miller or Bonzi Wells? Both are starter material and i don't think either wants to play off the bench, although Brown does a good job of keeping everyone playing. They could get a good player in return.

If Dampier playsfor memphis...he'll only get about 24-30 mpg!

yeah no doubt. Still, they need a big man and Dampier may be the best available

I hope they do it. Pau is a great bigman, but he can't do it alone. I will miss seeing Stro play, but Dampier is a better center, hands down.

Pau needs a center with him, and Dampier is maybe the best available right now. I don't know the contractual situation of Marcus Camby, but this is another good option for Memphis
Jerry West is doing a great job with the Griz

They were saying probably Outlaw, Battier and Watson for Dampier. I would do that in a heartbeat. I really would hate for us to give up Stromile, but the Grizzlies are trying to resign him rightn ow and JW said he would match any offer up to 7 mil a year for Swift to keep him. I see us getting Damp for pretty cheap. If he comes here he wouldn't get the full $10 mil. He would most likely get 7 or 8 mil. Dampier played 29 mpg in GS so if he played 24-30 mins it will be good. We just need him for his blocking and rebounding basically.

The Grizzlies had Bonzi Wells in a deal earlier for Artest. I dont know if it's still going around or not. He would be the one most likely to go for Artest. Or they said it would Swift and Watson. So right now, we really don't know who we would trade.

The Nuggets and Camby have agreed to a long-term deal which means the Grizz can try and bring in Dampier...

Dampier will be a nice fit. I just hope he changes his number.

He will have to unless we don't hold on to Watson who is #25 as well, or he can just buy the number from Earl. Why should he change it anyway?

if they will sign and trade dampier, who do you think memphis will give in their roster that warrior want. like swift or wright?

Swift is a FA so it depends on if they can re-sign him first. If so, they'd probably want to give away Wright, but I think the W's would want Swift easily.

They were saying probably Outlaw, Battier and Watson for Dampier. I would do that in a heartbeat. I really would hate for us to give up Stromile, but the Grizzlies are trying to resign him rightn ow and JW said he would match any offer up to 7 mil a year for Swift to keep him. I see us getting Damp for pretty cheap. If he comes here he wouldn't get the full $10 mil. He would most likely get 7 or 8 mil. Dampier played 29 mpg in GS so if he played 24-30 mins it will be good. We just need him for his blocking and rebounding basically.

The Grizzlies had Bonzi Wells in a deal earlier for Artest. I dont know if it's still going around or not. He would be the one most likely to go for Artest. Or they said it would Swift and Watson. So right now, we really don't know who we would trade.

That's a good deal IMO for both teams. Damp has been an unachiever his entire career and to none of my surprise, he exploded his contract year. Honestly, I don't think he deserves 8 million lol. More around 6, but hey, he had a good season, teams are buying that he's finally putting his head where it should be, and his demand is high. Meanwhile, the W's get a hustle guy, two very good defenders and impact players on the court that do things other than score. That can really help this young, wild team, although I think that would signal a deal of either Dunleavy or JRich.

I think the Wells for Artest deals have settled down. Wells is the more dynamic scorer and Artest the more emotional and better player/defender, but both are similar, post-up guards with attitudes. Unless the Pacers get real quality back (like Swift) I don't see it happening.

I was actually going to post this a few minutes before Mafia there, but um, I was a bit late.

Anyways, I saw this on NBA.com and I thought to myself, 'if Memphis get Dampier, well, look out playoffs, here come the Grizzlies!' So if Memphis do get Dampier, most likely through signing the big fella, it would bring a sense of urgency to the team, and maybe, with the Artest-Wells trade still in the woks, things might blossum and just think of the team then...

C: Dampier
PF: Gasol
SF: Artest
SG: Posey
PG: Williams

...or something along those lines... POSEY won't be playing SG, I forgot who plays SG actually off the top of my head, and also, the trade of Artest-Wells, wouldn't just go down with a one on one, it would be a 6 or 7 player deal, if it happens, but all I can say is Memphis is really building up to be a contender, and I like that in the NBA- teams building and then with that new team, been able to beat the best in the L and go the p/o's.

Go Memphis....

Macca

Seiously- why would Indioana trade Artest for Wells?

Oh yeah- can someone tell me why Dickerson retired?

Seiously- why would Indioana trade Artest for Wells?

i've been wondering the same too.
Artest got a better trade value than for Bonzi in my thoughts...just seeing Artest puts fear in the offensive player minds wondering if he will do some crazy thing to them.
bonzi=no award
artest=defensive player of the year

Oh yeah- can someone tell me why Dickerson retired?

Grizzlies President of Basketball Operations Jerry West announced today that guard Michael Dickerson and the team have reached an agreement for his retirement due to chronic pain caused by a groin strain and sports hernia injuries. To complete the deal, the Grizzlies will waive Dickerson Monday. The transaction will reduce the Grizzlies camp roster to 15 players.

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Like I said before, Larry Bird and Artest haven't been seeing eye to eye since the end of the playoffs when Artest didn't show up for the final team meeting. Bonzi is a native of Indiana so that's why.

You can't throw in Swift though. S&T deals can only involve the one player who was signed and the returning amount of players doesn't matter.

i don't think the Grizz should accept a trade of Battier, Watson and Outlaw fo Dampier. Grizz survived last season by having a 10, 11 man rotation, trading 3 for 1 would deplete their bench.
They'd have to pick up some more talent