Houston Rockets Fans Set to Feel the Pain Mavericks Fans Felt with Erick Dampier

The Houston Rockets have officially acquired Erick Dampier.  On the surface, this move makes sense.  Yao can only give the Rockets limited minutes this year, and Brad Miller was really their only legitimate backup option at the center position.

Dampier gives them another big body to spell Miller and Yao, but he'll also give Houston fans big headaches.  As a member of the Dallas Mavericks for six years, Dampier gave me fits.  Every time he entered the game I wondered what Don Nelson, Avery Johnson and especially Rick Carlisle were thinking.

His starts and big minutes were inexplicable under Carlisle at the end of last season, since the Mavs acquired a much better option in Brendan Haywood.  Yet, Damp remained on the floor, committing fouls, missing dunks and layups and bobbling rebounds.

I was elated this past offseason when the Mavericks were able to trade Dampier for a younger, longer and significantly more athletic center named Tyson Chandler.  That single move was a huge upgrade to the Dallas Mavericks frontcourt.

Dampier was promptly waived by the Bobcats, who acquired him from Dallas.  He's been weighing his options for a while now.  The Rockets have finally taken the plunge and signed the 35-year-old free-agent center who never averaged double-figures in points or rebounds in any of his six seasons in Dallas.

It will be interesting to see if Dampier can have any sort of positive effect for the Rockets.  If Rick Adelman only uses him in spots, it could be okay.  Brad Miller has been effective so far in relief of Yao.  He's fundamentally sound, and he's familiar with Adelman's variation of the Princeton offense since he played under him in Sacramento.

The Rockets have other players who may be undersized but can play center as well.  Jordan Hill, Chuck Hayes and Luis Scola all come to mind.

Nevertheless, Rockets management felt they needed another true center and Dampier was available.

My favorite NBA team is the Dallas Mavericks.  The favorite team of one of my best friend's is the Houston Rockets.  Last night, he sent me a text message that simply read, "Dang Rockets."

"They lose?" I replied.

He texted back, "Picked up Dampier."  I instantly knew his pain.