The Celtics are in search of a rebounding big man and have considered bringing Erick Dampier in for a look, an NBA source tells Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.  However, the club hasn't been in touch with Kenyon Martin or his representatives since July.

“We’ve done a thorough analysis of the marketplace,” said agent Andy Miller, “and at this stage, Kenyon is obviously biting at the bit for an opportunity to get back in and show his wares. So we’ve broadened our scope from where we were originally, and that was obviously on the heels of free agency opening up. We wanted to be with a playoff-bound team and have a significant role.”

Dampier, 37, hooked on with the Hawks last season on a pair of ten-day contracts before signing for the remainder of the year.  The center had a 15 game stint in total and saw just 5.5 minutes of action per contest.  The bruising big man could provide the Celtics with the kind of interior play that they're seeking, but he'll have to have better conditioning than he did in Atlanta.  Dampier is one NBA vet who doesn't need to return for the money as he has earned roughly $98MM over the course of his 16-year career.

Martin, 34, last played with the Clippers and his rocky relationship with coach Vinny Del Negro may have something to do with his current unemployment.  The forward also saw his stat sheet take a hit as he was less involved offensively on a talented Clippers team.  Martin averaged 5.2 PPG and 4.3 RPG in 22.4 minutes per contest for Los Angeles.

The Hawks have signed Erick Dampier for the rest of the season, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The deal, which the team made official in a press release, will likely be for a pro-rated portion of the veteran's minimum.

Dampier, who inked a pair of 10-day contracts with the team, has played in six games for the Hawks this year, failing to score while averaging 1.8 rebounds in five minutes a night. Though Hawks coach Larry Drew said the 6'11" Dampier is not in the best of shape, the team is looking to the 16th-year veteran to provide depth in the post while Al Horford tries to come back from a torn left pectoral muscle before the end of the season and Jason Collins nurses a torn left elbow ligament.

Dampier, 36, spent most of his career with the Warriors and Mavs, with his best season coming in 2003/04, when he averaged 12.3 PPG and 12.0 for Golden State. That earned him a seven-year, $73MM contract with the Mavs.

The Hawks announced Wednesday (via Twitter) that they expected to sign Dampier for the remainder of the season.

The Hawks have re-signed Erick Dampier on a second 10-day contract, according to a team release last night.

Atlanta signed Dampier to a 10-day deal earlier this month to shore up a frontcourt that has been hit by injuries, including pectoral surgery that has sidelined Al Horford for most of the season. In four games for the Hawks, Dampier played just under 26 minutes, recording 10 boards and a blocked shot, though he didn't score a single point.

Let's take a look at a few links from around the league as we await tonight's renewal of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry in Boston....

• In a blog entry for NBA.com, Scott Howard-Cooper discusses Seattle's push for an NBA team, the Warriors' potential trade options, and Chauncey Billups' future.
• Hawks coach Larry Drew conceded to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Erick Dampier isn't in great shape (Twitter link). Atlanta signed Dampier to a 10-day contract to add frontcourt depth.
• As Jeremy Lin dominates headlines in New York, teams that could've signed and kept him look back on a missed opportunity. Donnie Nelson talked about the Mavericks' failed attempt to sign Lin (Dallas Morning News link), while Houston GM Daryl Morey tweeted that he should have held on to Lin when he was a Rocket.
• Sonny Weems won't be returning to the NBA this season, his agent tells Sportando.
• Talking to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Oscar Robertson said the Heat need a center who can consistently record 12 points and 10 boards if they're going to win championships. With respect to the Hall-of-Famer, I think the Heat are talented enough to win a title without a strong presence in the middle.
• The Cavaliers won't actively place Anderson Varejao on the trade market, since they likely wouldn't get fair value for him, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.

The Hawks have signed Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract, according to a team press release.

It was reported over the weekend that Atlanta was eyeing free agent centers, including Dampier, Kyrylo Fesenko, and Dan Gadzuric. The team announced on Saturday that Jason Collins would miss at least two weeks with a sprained elbow. Considering the Hawks are also without Al Horford, it makes sense that they'd add some frontcourt depth.

Dampier, 36, played in 51 games for the Heat last season, averaging 2.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16 minutes per contest. The 6'11" center has also played for the Pacers, Warriors, and Mavericks since making his NBA debut in 1996.