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.