Atlanta Hawks Signed Erick Dampier to 10-Day Contract

The Atlanta Hawks are hoping that the signing of Erick Dampier will provide them with some much-needed support in the paint. From the AJC: “The Hawks no longer will have to make do using forwards at center. The team signed veteran free agent Erick Dampier to a 10-day contract Thursday. He joins Zaza Pachulia as the only healthy centers on the roster after injuries sidelined Al Horford and Jason Collins. Dampier, who is 6-foot-11, has played in 972 regular-season NBA games. He finished last season with the Heat. ‘He’s a legitimate center,’ Hawks coach Larry Drew said. ‘He’s been in the league a long time. He’s a guy who knows how to play the position, particularly defensively. You can look at our team and see we need a big body. I’ve said it all along. Hopefully he can come in and help out.’ Horford is out until at least mid-April after suffering a pectoral injury Jan. 11, and Collins will miss at least another week with an elbow injury. The Hawks have been at a size disadvantage while using forwards Ivan Johnson and Josh Smith to back up Pachulia.”