Free agent C Erick Dampier is strongly considering the Suns, according to his agent.

Dampier is expected to pick a team before Monday. The Suns are reportedly interested in him as a strict backup to Robin Lopez.

The Trail Blazers do not appear to be in the running to sign free agent center Erick Dampier, who left a visit with the Suns on Friday, but they do plan on signing a center.

They want to see where Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden are in the recovery before considering cutting a player and signing a center for the regular season, but there's a very good chance they'll bring another center in to at least work the rest of preseason after losing Jeff Pendergraph for the season on Friday.

Veteran center Erick Dampier is still considering signing with the Suns, Bulls, Rockets, or Raptors.

The Suns likely would offer Dampier their biennial exception, worth $2.1 million this season. He'll likely become his new team's primary backup big man, offering minimal fantasy value in average leagues.

Erick Dampier will meet with the Suns on Thursday as he continues to try to find his next team.

The Rockets were looking like a real possibility, but Dampier's future is still up in the air. He's either being very picky about who to sign with, or isn't impressing teams as much as he'd hoped.

Erick Dampier is still debating where to play in 2010-11.

The free agent center reportedly had a meeting scheduled with the Bulls on Wednesday, and is expected to visit with the Suns this week. Other teams in the mix for Dampier include the Raptors, Rockets and Bucks.

Erick Dampier is reportedly deciding between the Rockets and Raptors.

Dampier dined with Raptors' management on Thursday and was "impressed" by their pitch, but left without any agreements. The 14-year-veteran proved last season that he can still be effective, averaging 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in just 23 minutes per game.

Erick Dampier visited the Raptors on Thursday, but has not been signed by the team.

It could happen, but as of now, Dampier is still a free agent looking for a team, and possibly has other meetings scheduled. Dampier was an intriguing fantasy figure when it looked like he might start for Charlotte or Miami, but his star is fading with each week that passes.

The Raptors have joined in the pursuit of free agent center Erick Dampier, along with the Bucks and Rockets.

Dampier is a solid veteran but will likely be a fantasy afterthought regardless of where he lands. He'd get more playing time in Toronto or Milwaukee, whereas the Rockets already have Yao Ming and Brad Miller chewing up minutes at C.

Free agent center Erick Dampier is reportedly choosing between signing with the Bucks or Rockets.

Dampier recently spoke with Bucks coach Scott Skiles and was "pleased with the tone of the discussion," but Milwaukee can only give him the veteran's minimum $1.3 million. The Rockets haven't made a formal offer but could pay $4 million over two years, though he likely wouldn't play as big a role. His decision is expected soon.

The Bucks are reportedly interested in center Erick Dampier, but can only offer the veteran's minimum.

It sounds like the Nuggets, who are busy with the Carmelo Anthony saga, have waned in their interest for Dampier, leaving just Houston and Milwaukee in the mix right now. His value is going to be minimal regardless of where he lands, but he could be useful in Milwaukee until Andrew Bogut returns.

After appearing as if a deal was going to be imminent, the Heat have decided to pass on free agent center Erick Dampier.

It sounds like negotiations went south when he had second thoughts about going to Miami, so they moved on without him. That leaves Denver and Houston as the most likely destinations, and with Kyrylo Fesenko giving Houston a Saturday deadline we will likely see their hand played sooner than later.

Despite reports to the contrary earlier in the day Thursday, Chris Broussard writes that Erick Dampier is still leaning toward signing with the Heat.

It sounds like a decision will be made on Thursday evening or during the day on Friday. However, until it's official it still may not be safe to assume Dampier is playing for the Heat.

Erick Dampier has yet to make up his mind on who to sign with and it's possible the Heat are no longer the front runners for his services.

It sounds like Dampier is having second thoughts about joining the Heat and that other teams may now be back in the hunt to land Dampier. Stay tuned.

Heat beat writer Ira Winderman reports that "it now appears as if [Dampier's] signing [with the Heat] is imminent, if not already done."

In contrast, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports cites a league source saying that no decision is forthcoming from Dampier today. According to Wojnarowski, "Houston and Denver [are] still in [the] mix, but Heat have [the] edge."

Erick Dampier is reportedly deciding between the Heat, Rockets, and Nuggets.

The Nuggets are a surprising option, especially since Dampier could arrive to find Carmelo gone and a fleet of young players inbound. Miami can only offer $1.4 million but the lure of a championship might be all the persuasion Damp needs.

Erick Dampier met with Houston coach Rick Adelman and worked out for the Rockets on Monday, as he chooses between the Rockets and Heat.

Apparently the Hawks are no longer in the mix, which isn't surprising. The Rockets are reportedly offering a two-year, $4 million deal, while the Heat can only do $1.4 million. On a side note, Rockets are said to be making their push for Carmelo Anthony, but the same can be said about almost every team in the league.

Erick Dampier is in the process of narrowing his options down to just a few teams, with the Heat, Rockets and (surprise) the Hawks currently leading the way.

Dampier's value would see a boost with the Hawks, as they have lacked a true center for years. Move Marvin Williams to the bench, Josh Smith to SF and Al Horford to PF, and Dampier is your new starting center. He would also start in Miami, but struggle to see touches, and would provide Yao Ming insurance in Houston. If he ends up with the Rockets, don't draft him, as he'll also have to compete with Brad Miller if Yao goes down.

Yao Ming will apparently be on a strict playing time limit this season, so the Rockets have reportedly offered free agent center Erick Dampier a two-year, $4 million contract.

Dampier is also expected to get a minimum offer from the Heat and an offer from the Grizzlies. The Rockets are also in talks with Jazz restricted free agent center Kyrylo Fesenko, although the Jazz are expected to match any reasonable offers. But the bottom line here is that if the Rockets are this desperate for a center when they already have Yao, Brad Miller and Luis Scola on board, you probably don't want Yao on your fantasy team this year.

The Bobcats have waived Erick Dampier (and his non-guaranteed $13 million contract) after failing to find a suitable trade offer.

Dampier's expiring contract was seen as a very desirable trade chip, but the Bobcats are close to the luxury tax and seem content saving money. The veteran center should have no shortage of suitors once he clears waivers.

The Bobcats will become eligible to trade Erick Dampier on Monday -- his $13 million contract is fully unguaranteed once he is waived.

"The conversations have been had around the league," said GM Rod Higgins. "I don't know if there's going to be anything that subsequently gets done." Charlotte couldn't take back more than $5 million in salary without triggering the luxury tax, so a blockbuster deal would be difficult to pull off.