ABM

FWIW

Looks like, either, Dampier or Clark are it for backup Centers?

Also, as Miles is obviously highy rated, curious as the seeming lack of interest - or, at least, offers to him?

BLAZER PROPHET

I think Miles is still there as it's common knowledge we're going to match any reasonable offer and probably any offer that a bit more than reasonable.

It's also possible Miles & his agent are making too high of demands with the thought of a one year deal with us and then unrestricted free agency. He'll start for us and showcase himself all season.

Frankly, I'd like to see Nash just sign him and get it over with.

STOMP

Who is going to be Portland's center after the 2004-5 season? If he's healthy, I'd guess many here would like to see Theo resign, but I'd rather have Damp. Through hard work, he's shown great improvement in his physique and skills the last few years since he's finally put knee/leg problems behind him. Compared to TR, he's not as prolific at shotblocking, but at around 2 a game he's pretty darn good. Other then that he's bigger, stronger, younger, and better at most everything especially rebounding (12 to 7.2 last year). He also doesn't have a degenerative hip.

I'd guess that Golden State would be interested in a trade of Theo for a S&Td Damp both for the short term possibilities of this years team and to have a good player with a 11 mil expiring deal to dangle at the trade deadline.

STOMP

Blazer Freak

Damp was just playing for the money. If he does go to NY then the Media will eat him alive for his :cthread:ty work ethic. Thats the reason he wants to sign with the Hawks, no one pays attention to them. Plus his stats will prob. be better with being on a crappy team like ATL.

BFreak.

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STOMP

well living in the Bay Area and as a regular listener to Rick Barry's noon to 3 local sportstalk show (listen on line if you want http://www.knbr.com/listenNow.html ), I've not only observed his body transform, but Rick has told me how he's done it. Starting 3 years back, he hired Rick's buddy former Warrior center Clifford Ray as his personal trainer. According to Rick's well placed inside source, Damp has been focused and busting his tail each offseason.

As far as your suspicion that he was "just playing for the money," dude just opted out of two more years at about 10 mil per because he wants to go to a winner. Because of the salary cap situations of teams this offseason, there was little chance that he'd be getting a pay raise where ever he lands.

I really doubt he signs with the Hawks. According to Rick's source, he's had enough losing. I don't think that Shaq moving to Miami sweetens the Atlanta outlook for him either.

STOMP

Blazer Ringbearer

I'd be all for getting Dampier...

I wonder though if Nash is even on the phone with GS. He's good at portraying the image that he's not really doing much.

Ed O

If Portland could get Dampier at a max MLE deal, it would be an awesome move... not because he's the best center of all time, but because he's a pretty good starting center and at max MLE money he'd be a good value.

It would let us move Theo for some value elsewhere, or have the best depth at the 5 spot we've had in decades.

I don't know why the Blazers would be the only team that would offer him the full MLE, though... if it's just about the money, he's going to Atlanta. If it's just about the winning, he probably won't have Portland that high up his list.

Hope I'm wrong, of course.

Ed O.

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"In the end, it all comes down to talent. You can talk all you want about intangibles, I just don't know what that means. Talent makes winners, not intangibles. Can nice guys win? Sure, nice guys can win -- if they're nice guys with a lot of talent. Nice guys with a little talent finish fourth, and nice guys with no talent finish last."

-- Sandy Koufax

STOMP

MLE money for one of the better bigs in the league seems more like incredible value to me. I'll be pretty surprised if he signs with anyone at MLE money, and I'd put Portland's chances of pulling that off at about 0%. The only way he becomes a Blazer (IMO) is if Nash works a S&T.

STOMP

gambitnut

If it is about the winning, I like to think that we would still be higher on his list than the team that most people have him going to, the Knicks.

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Storyteller

Assuming that Houston used their MLE to sign Sura, there are now only 7 teams with a full MLE to offer:

Boston
Chicago
Cleveland
New Orleans
New York
Portland
Seattle.

However, one rumor has it that Vin Baker has verbally signed with the Knicks for a portion of the MLE. That would leave only 6 teams with the full MLE to offer.

If Portland had in mind to trade Ratliff, they could offer what Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, and New Orleans couldn't - no competition for the starting C job.

gambitnut

To expand on my point to Ed O, I think we have the best chance to win of those teams, if that is a big factor to him. How many teams still have more than the MLE in cap space? Atlanta, anyone else?

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Fan of Baseball? Talk about it here!

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Storyteller

Just Atlanta.