While this is not a fantasy problem per se, it does make me go, hmmm. Right now, Erick Dampier is ranked #54 overall on Basketball Monster - not just among centers, overall. If you need that third center, there are plenty of worse players you could pick up. He's blocking and rebounding right now, everything you want in a non-Channing Frye center.
He's also playing 30 minutes a game. That's going to be kind of a problem. Sure, Dallas can win with him on the floor that long. But you've got a salary cap issue if he keeps it up. Here's what I got from www.shamsports.com (and he got it from somewhere, you'll have to ask him where, but add 5 hours because he's British):
Re: Erick Dampier's Contract
Signed and traded to Dallas with a 7 year, $73 million contract in August 2004. Contract contains performance bonuses currently listed as "likely." Last season is fully unguaranteed, which becomes full guaranteed if 1) Dampier is selected to play in any three NBA All-Star Games between the 2004-2005 and 2009-2010 seasons, or 2) Dampier plays at least 2,100 minutes in the 70 regular season games in the 2009-2010 season in which he plays his most minutes (and if he plays in less than 70 regular season games in the 2009-2010 season, then he must play at least 2,100 minutes for the entire regular season).
2100 divided by 70 is 30. Math. Dampier is not Chinese so he didn't make 3 All-Star Games. But he could play in 70 games. Dallas is messing with fire right now but letting him on the court more than 30 minutes a night. It would help if they could play some of the smaller teams in the league right now, like Atlanta or Houston or Minnesota, and not the LA teams. They need Drew Gooden healthy for a bunch of games this year. They need to see if Kris Humphries can do anything big. Maybe they can go small and get Dirk his Center eligibility back. There has to be a center floating around out there to give 8 minutes a night, or a Donaghy-like ref who needs the over to come in and will call cheap big man fouls.
Dampier is scheduled to make just over $13 million in 2009-2010. With Dallas over the luxury tax line, the Magic's move of matching Gortat could cost Dallas $26 million. Sure, Cuban has money, but he didn't become rich by effectively paying guys like Dampier $26 million. (I think he invented the electric car or something.) An unguaranteed contract of $13 million is going to be a huge chip this February or right before the draft. I can't see Dallas screwing this up when it's been such a bad contract already. Mr. Cuban, if you want, you can pay me three-tenths of one percent of what you would pay out for Mr. Dampier next season - I'll do anything you want after I tell you to play Dampier less, even help run a Dairy Queen.
All that being said, Dampier is still going to be fantasy poison. He's never been able to consistently bring in good center numbers, and should never be more than a one week / 4 game pickup. I'd watch the 3-4 weeks before the trade deadline for his PT to decline, just to make sure he has 12 games of low minutes so that his guarantee clause doesn't kick in. If you want that extra center, go for him now if you must.
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