July 20 Insider - Around the League

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I chopped off the first part of the article, which was about restricted free agents. This is the "Around the League" section. Interesting item about NVE's contract status, as well as mention of Nash's and Daniels's contracts.

Around the League

Is Damp heading to N.Y.? The Knicks' pursuit of Erick Dampier has been well documented. However, reports out of New York on Monday that the deal is "done" may have been premature. Not only did Damp meet with the Hawks on Monday afternoon, but Warriors GM Chris Mullin was quick to shoot down the reports.

Asked at Derek Fisher's press conference whether he was only dealing with the Knicks at this point, Mullin told reporters "No. We're talking to several other teams. When something becomes clear, we're going to regroup and move from there."

As we've been saying for weeks, it's unlikely Dampier would choose the Hawks or that the Hawks would offer him a huge contract. They are rebuilding and don't have a great shot of winning any time soon. After playing on an awful team his whole career, why not just stay with the Warriors if winning wasn't the most important thing?

The Knicks are offering Dampier a starting salary of $9 million per in a sign-and-trade that would send Nazr Mohammed and Othella Harrington (who is in the last year of his contract) to Golden State. That works out to a six-year, $71 million deal for Dampier assuming he gets the max 12.5 percent raises. According to several reports in the New York area, Dampier's agent, Dan Fegan, is trying to get the Knicks to pick up a seventh year. Assuming the same raises, that would make his number in year seven $16.38 million -- when he's 37 years old. Eighty-seven million for Dampier? You've got to love Isiah.

There's a pretty major hitch in the seven-year scenario, however. If Dampier, who's 30 right now, gets a seventh year, the "over 36" rule is evoked. The rule basically says that, for cap purposes, the year or years of a long-term contract that extend beyond a player's 36th birthday are considered unlikely.

In other words, it's unlikely the player will be playing at age 37. To discourage teams from giving players what essentially amount to "golden parachutes," the over-36 rule states, in this particular case, that Dampier's seventh-year salary ($16.38 million) must be averaged over the course of the first six years for cap purposes. That means that as far as sign-and-trades and the cap goes, you've got to add $2.73 million to each of the first six years of Damp's contract. That puts his first-year starting salary at a whopping $11.73 million. It also means that the trade of Mohammed and Harrington for Dampier wouldn't work without the Knicks putting another salary into the deal.

Why are the Warriors even playing along? Look no further than Fegan. Fegan also represents Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy. Both players become restricted free agents next summer if they don't work out extensions this fall. If Mullin wants them back at a reasonable price, it probably behooves him to work out a nice package for Dampier.

If the Knicks really are offering that salary and if the Warriors are really willing to accept (sources say yes on both fronts), why hasn't a deal happened? One league source claims that Dampier is nervous about playing for the Knicks and the big-time pressure he'd be under in New York. He preferred to play in a smaller market like Memphis, which is closer to his home in Mississippi. So far the Grizzlies have been unwilling to meet Damp and the Warriors' asking price. Could this story of Damp's imminent signing with the Knicks have been leaked as a final warning shot to other teams to get off the fence and make their best offer?

Warriors go fishing: Speaking of our good friends over at the Warriors, Derek Fisher told reporters that he was promised "starter-like" minutes on the Warriors next season. I'm sure Speedy Claxton and Nick Van Exel were thrilled to hear that.

"I don't think any organization makes a financial commitment the way they have to me over a six-year period if they don't plan to play you a lot," Fisher said at the press conference.

GMs believe that the Warriors won't have three "starting" point guards on their roster next season and will keep trying to move Van Exel. Contrary to what's being reported everywhere in the print media, Van Exel is essentially in the last year of his contract. He does have a $12.713 million option next year, but the contract is completely unguaranteed. He gave up the guarantee at the request of Mark Cuban when Van Exel was traded to the Mavs several years ago.

Claxton is also essentially in the last season of his contract as well. He, too, has a team option for the third year of his contract. Both players will have some value around the league, especially if the Warriors are willing to accept back some salary in return.

The numbers don't lie: More contracts are rolling into the league office. Here's the latest on the actual numbers of some free agents.

Steve Nash's deal comes to six years for $65.6 million. His first-year salary is $8.75 million with 10 percent raises every year. The sixth year is only partially guaranteed. Nash's guaranteed money is just a smidgen over six years, $60 million.

Vlade Divac will sign for two years, $10.3 million today with the Lakers.

Rafer Alston's contract with the Raptors came to six years, $26.25 million with some unlikely performance bonuses that could add more to contract. His first-year salary is $3.5 million. The sixth year isn't fully guaranteed, bringing the guaranteed total to five years, $21 million, which is what Insider originally reported.

Bruce Bowen's four-year, $14.25 million contract is only partially guaranteed ($2 million) in the last year (2007-09) of the deal.

Marquis Daniels got only a five-year guaranteed contract. The sixth year, worth $7.4 million, is a team option.