REPORT: C'S 'CONSIDER' DAMPIER, NOT MARTIN/ ALSO ROBIN LOPEZ IN THE MIX?

WEEI

By: Ben Rohrbach

In need of frontcourt depth after the failed Darko Milicic experiment, the Celtics "have considered" inviting free agent center Erick Dampier to work out for an available roster spot, according to a Globe report.

In Summer 2011, the Celtics also expressed interest in Dampier, and it makes sense to kick the tires again, considering they rank 28th in rebounding rate and allow opponents to shoot 65.2 percent at the rim, even if the 6-foot-11 Dampier's 16-year NBA career averages of 7.4 points and 7.1 rebounds have fallen off a cliff in recent years.

However, the Celtics have not contacted agent Andy Miller about power forward Kenyon Martin, according to the report. Martin averaged 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.4 minutes off the bench for the Clippers last season.
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HEARD THIS ON CSNE AND INVESTIGATED RUMOR

Should The Boston Celtics Pursue Robin Lopez?

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

One big man the Boston Celtics figure to take a long, hard look at before the trading deadline in February is Robin Lopez, a center for the New Orleans Hornets. The Celtics have been long time fans of Lopez ever since he entered the league as a rookie out of Stanford. Lopez is an excellent running big man and would give the team legitimate size off its bench. New Orleans is going nowhere this season and it wouldn’t hurt the Celtics to at least explore the possibility of acquiring him in a trade. He is making roughly the full mid level exception, so the Celtics would have to match salaries in order to make a deal work.
Would Brandon Bass for Lopez work for both teams? I think the Celtics would do this deal, as they already have a player on their roster who shares many similarities with Bass in Jared Sullinger. I am really not sure if the Hornets would do this with Ryan Anderson already occupying most of the power forward minutes. They want to ease rookie Anthony Davis into the lineup and would prefer to play him more at the power forward spot with Anderson sometimes coming off the bench. Since Bass makes a similar salary, it would certainly be something the Hornets would have to take a serious look at.
Lopez is signed for three more years at about $5 million per. He is still young and would offer another athletic presence to run the floor with point guard Rajon Rondo. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics pursue these types of deals given that they are well stocked at the four position and could use some more size in the front-court.

112288

No.

Dampier never lived up to his potential or hype and whatever he has is gone now. He only played in 15 games last year, sucked, and hasn't played yet this year. He's 37 years old.


bob


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Dampier = Collins

Can't we ever get a young shot blocker and let him learn the ropes. Forgot we will see him tonight.