I apparently should not have trusted Chad Ford to get something as simple as what each player’s contract entailed correctly.

Yeah, this trade is way more reasonable from Dallas’ end now knowing that Ford completely botched the whole “Dallas has a team option on Dampier in 2010.” That’s the only thing making him attractive for the Knicks, the fact that he would not be on the books for 2010-2011, but Ford was wrong, the Mavs do not have a team option for Dampier – it’s guaranteed.

That really irks me that Ford got something like that wrong (unless, of course, all the other sites out there that list player salaries got it wrong and Ford, somehow, is correct – in which case, my apologies).

Here ya go, Owen:

Erick Dampier to New York for Eddy Curry
Why the Mavs would do it: With DeSagana Diop back in Dallas, what the Mavs really need is another low-post scorer. Curry has the ability to deliver that, while Diop can deliver the defense.
Why the Mavs wouldn’t do it: Mark Cuban used to be a spendaholic, but lately he’s tried to be more frugal. Curry has two more years left on his contract than Dampier.
Why the Knicks would do it: Curry doesn’t fit into Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo style and his contract is a burden. Dampier has a team option in the summer of 2010 so the Knicks could get his contract off the books and be further under the cap when they make a run at LeBron. The bigger bonus is that they probably wouldn’t have to include David Lee in this deal.
Why the Knicks wouldn’t do it: They’d be paying Dampier for the next two years and don’t really need him.

I think much less of Ford after seeing this trade scenario.
For the Knicks, it actually makes sense, but the Mavs would never in a gajillion years make such a deal.

I think there’s little chance of this deal happening, but I have read very positive comments from Cuban about Curry on a couple of occasions. He actually likes him. Though that was awhile ago.

That would be a nice trade for the Knicks if you leave aside salary cap considerations. Dampier can play defense and rebound at least. A frontcourt of Lee, Randolph, and Dampier would be decent…

this isn’t going to change much, so get used to it. we don’t have the personnel to play much D, and for all the gibberish D’Antoni spouts about his Suns teams playing underrated D, they mostly really didn’t.

D’Antoni’s Suns finished between 13-17th in each of his seasons. Considering they were the best offensive team in that span, and pundits said they played no defense, I’d say that’s underrated D. To put that in perspective for Knick fans, New York didn’t finish above 25th in defense during that same span.

this isn’t going to change much, so get used to it. we don’t have the personnel to play much D, and for all the gibberish D’Antoni spouts about his Suns teams playing underrated D, they mostly really didn’t.

It’s a stretch to think that anyone would trade more than junk for Curry (if that), but if anyone I could see Dallas.
First, I’m a little confused by Ford’s statement, “lately he’s tried to be more frugal. Curry has two more years left on his contract than Dampier.” In fact, according to hoopshype the opposite is potentially true: Curry can opt-out after this season or next season while Dampier is locked in for more money and 3 seasons. (Making him unattractive for the 2010 plan, but there’s probably a team out there besides the Knicks desperate for an interior defender.)
Curry is also 7 years younger than Dampier. I doubt they like Curry, but if they do the deal makes a potentially fading team younger: Dampier’s 35 and making $13 mill in 2010/11.
Perhaps most importantly, this is Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson we’re talking about. These guys role the dice. Juwan Howard? done. Juwan Howard for 1/2 the Nuggets? done. Toine and Tawn? done. Give Dampier this huge contract? done. Gerald Green? done. They’ve mellowed out, but if they have a rough start and Curry works his way into the rotation… maybe they go back to their old ways. It’s still not likely, but I wouldn’t say out of the realm of possibilities.

So, it’s almost definitely a wild rumor invented by Chad Ford. But like the Knicks being over .500, any thing’s possible in the preseason. If they moved Dampier somewhere else for a wing, I’d consider Curry-Stackhouse to advance towards the 2010 goal.

If he plays better than Q, I certainly hope Chandler gets more minutes (whether he starts or not). I can’t stomach anymore playing bad vets ahead of better youngsters.

I don’t know if Jeffries is the answer to the interior D problem, but I guess he’s worth a try. It’s not like he’s going to play 48 mpg, Randolph will still get his run. Randolph had two of his most efficient years early in his career when he was fighting for playing time. Some incentive might light a fire in him.

nj hoop,

I think it is more or less a sign of things to come, but if that’s the case at least they’ll be in games… At the same time they might be able to outscore enough bad teams to contend for the 8 seed, if not at least they haven’t given away their 09 pick.
I am hoping for some in-season improvement, as players learn from D’Antoni and he finds his rotation. Also, Toronto and Philly potentially have the 2 deepest/most well-balanced frontcourts in the East. Against teams with a replacement level player or two in the frontcourt rotation, Lee/Randolph might be able to score enough to make up for their shortcomings.