NBA Notes:Pacers’ big pick in fold

Thursday, July 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Erick Dampier is ready to go to work.

Indiana's first-round pick in the college draft signed a three-year contract with the Pacers Wednesday and announced he will be heading to Salt Lake City for an NBA free agent-rookie league.

Terms of Dampier's contract weren't disclosed, per club policy. The Indianapolis Star reported the three-year contract is worth about $1.3 million a season.

"I don't think it's really sunk in yet," said Dampier, who helped Mississippi State reach the Final Four last season.

Dampier averaged 13.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in three collegiate seasons and entered the draft after his junior year. He averaged 14.5 points last season and finished his collegiate career with a school-record 106 blocked shots.

The 6-foot-11, 265-pound center strengthens an already formidable front line, which was kept together when free agents Dale Davis and Antonio Davis re-signed with the team earlier this month.

* MAVERICKS: Former Dallas guard Derek Harper is expected to be back with the team by Friday, according to published reports. Harper gave Dallas an oral commitment earlier, despite being offered more money by other teams. But an announcement concerning Harper's return isn't expected until Friday, the Dallas Morning News reported. Dallas made room under the salary cap on Tuesday by trading forward Popeye Jones to the Toronto Raptors.

* KNICKS: When the New York Knicks recently signed Allan Houston, Hubert Davis figured his days might be numbered in New York. He was right, and his number came up Wednesday when the Knicks traded Davis to the Toronto Raptors for a first-round draft choice. "This pretty much had to happen," said Davis, a career 47.4-percent shooter. "Things like this are out of your control."

* SUNS: If Steve Nash turns out to be another Michael Finley, that will be just fine with Phoenix. Finley, the club's top draft choice last year, blossomed into one of the NBA's best rookies, averaging 15 points and 3.5 assists and making the all-rookie team. Nash, Phoenix's first selection in last month's draft and potential successor to Kevin Johnson at point guard, signed a three-year contract Wednesday worth about $3.1 million.

* NETS: John Calipari has a point guard for his first season as coach of the New Jersey Nets, provided Robert Pack stays healthy. Pack, the talented point guard who has missed chunks of the last two seasons with knee injuries, reached agreement Wednesday night with the Nets on a multi-year contract. Anthony Hilliard, Pack's agent, said the sides hoped to sign the contract sometime this weekend. Hilliard would not disclose terms other than to say the contract was for more than four years.