The "Dampier Ultimate Sign-and-Trade Chip"
Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:55 am
This was published about three weeks ago, but probably only Mavs fans have read this thing:
The DUST Chip: Why The Mavs Absolutely, Positively, Cannot, Should Not, Must Not Trade ... Erick Dampier. Once 'The Stack Chip' Is Spent, 'The DUST Chip' Settles Into A Precious Place
Basically, the article suggests that the Mavs could use Dampier's "essentially-expiring contract" after this season to sign-and-trade a FA out of the 2010 class.
The ideology behind this is basically:
The team losing the superstar FA can't afford resigning him or doesn't have the team around the superstar to make him want to stay there and win a championship (so obviously, LeBron is probably out-of-hand along with possibly others). The team, realizing this means that their superstar probably won't come back, will be trying to squeeze something out of his departure (unlike in baseball, where losing top free agents will net you a first-round pick and a supplementary pick.) So they could be open to a sign-and-trade where they'd receive maybe picks and cash and trade exceptions in return.
This is where Dallas comes in.
With Dampier's contract, there's two years left on the deal. However, the second year will not kick in because he probably won't meet requirements (if he does, the Mavs probably win the NBA championship). So basically, at the end of the 2009-2010 season, Damp becomes an "instant expiring" contract which could match a salary up to around 16mil, which could be the first year of a max contract with back-end loading.
By sending this dubbed "DUST chip" to the team losing the superstar in a sign-and-trade, along with picks and cash, the Mavs get their superstar at their high price, without him having to go through the lengthy FA negotiations. Hell, if they wanted JJ Barea, Dallas could probably throw him in too. Basically, they jump the queue as the superstar's previous team picks the location he is to go. Yeah, the payroll and luxury tax would skyrocket too, but Dallas adds a great player to go with Dirk, Kidd, Marion, Terry and possibly Josh Howard (if his option is picked up.)
Meanwhile, the trading team simply waives Dampier, and with his type of contract, it means that nothing is added to their payroll (unlike most contracts which are still paid for if the player gets claimed on waivers and starts playing for another team). So they get their cap space (same as if the superstar had left) along with additional pieces (not great, but better than nothing) to start rebuilding or sign some lower-tier FAs.
Again, this is a theoretical thing, and I kinda doubt the Mavs have drawing power to too many of those superstar FAs. Similarly, the team could get offered much better talent than picks and cash and possibly JJ Barea, but that's another possible scenario. There's been some issues recently about Cuban with the law, but I'd think he'd pony up the cash for such an opportunity.
Of course, I don't trust Donnie Nelson that he realizes this asset instead of sending him off to a place like NO for Tyson Chandler.
The DUST Chip: Why The Mavs Absolutely, Positively, Cannot, Should Not, Must Not Trade ... Erick Dampier. Once 'The Stack Chip' Is Spent, 'The DUST Chip' Settles Into A Precious Place
Basically, the article suggests that the Mavs could use Dampier's "essentially-expiring contract" after this season to sign-and-trade a FA out of the 2010 class.
The ideology behind this is basically:
The team losing the superstar FA can't afford resigning him or doesn't have the team around the superstar to make him want to stay there and win a championship (so obviously, LeBron is probably out-of-hand along with possibly others). The team, realizing this means that their superstar probably won't come back, will be trying to squeeze something out of his departure (unlike in baseball, where losing top free agents will net you a first-round pick and a supplementary pick.) So they could be open to a sign-and-trade where they'd receive maybe picks and cash and trade exceptions in return.
This is where Dallas comes in.
With Dampier's contract, there's two years left on the deal. However, the second year will not kick in because he probably won't meet requirements (if he does, the Mavs probably win the NBA championship). So basically, at the end of the 2009-2010 season, Damp becomes an "instant expiring" contract which could match a salary up to around 16mil, which could be the first year of a max contract with back-end loading.
By sending this dubbed "DUST chip" to the team losing the superstar in a sign-and-trade, along with picks and cash, the Mavs get their superstar at their high price, without him having to go through the lengthy FA negotiations. Hell, if they wanted JJ Barea, Dallas could probably throw him in too. Basically, they jump the queue as the superstar's previous team picks the location he is to go. Yeah, the payroll and luxury tax would skyrocket too, but Dallas adds a great player to go with Dirk, Kidd, Marion, Terry and possibly Josh Howard (if his option is picked up.)
Meanwhile, the trading team simply waives Dampier, and with his type of contract, it means that nothing is added to their payroll (unlike most contracts which are still paid for if the player gets claimed on waivers and starts playing for another team). So they get their cap space (same as if the superstar had left) along with additional pieces (not great, but better than nothing) to start rebuilding or sign some lower-tier FAs.
Again, this is a theoretical thing, and I kinda doubt the Mavs have drawing power to too many of those superstar FAs. Similarly, the team could get offered much better talent than picks and cash and possibly JJ Barea, but that's another possible scenario. There's been some issues recently about Cuban with the law, but I'd think he'd pony up the cash for such an opportunity.
Of course, I don't trust Donnie Nelson that he realizes this asset instead of sending him off to a place like NO for Tyson Chandler.
Re: The "Dampier Ultimate Sign-and-Trade Chip"
Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:11 am
I don't think anything will come out of it even if the Mavs realize it. That scenario just reminds me how Portland was trying to sell Raef LaFrentz to the other teams before the trade deadline last season.
Re: The "Dampier Ultimate Sign-and-Trade Chip"
Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:35 am
Yeah, I agree with shadowgrin. RLEC pt. 2
Re: The "Dampier Ultimate Sign-and-Trade Chip"
Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:37 am
It's not an "instant expiring" or these other weird words. It just becomes a non-guaranteed contract, the second year still "kicks in" as you can't get rid of it you can just end it early.
Dallas should still play him 2099 minutes though. (2100 minutes is the condition.) Playing him less than last season would be silly.
Dallas should still play him 2099 minutes though. (2100 minutes is the condition.) Playing him less than last season would be silly.