[CHRON] T-Mac gets a 230-pound gift basket

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3271769

T-Mac gets a 230-pound gift basket
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle


Yes, Virginia, there is a Tracy McGrady. He's a jolly fellow who likes to wear a red suit and make dreams come true.

No sooner did T-Mac offer a wish list for the Rockets' offseason — "That's a guy I can grow with," McGrady said of Stromile Swift last week — than a sort of Miracle On Polk Street happened.

Swift took the offer.

Just when it appeared the New Jersey Nets were swooping in with more money for the free agent and former Grizzly and just when the Rockets' most pressing offseason need seemed on the verge of getting Carlos Beltran-ed, Swift went for fewer dollars. But better sense.

This agreement the Rockets reached with Swift — minus details to be worked out this week — is more than good for the Rockets. It is potentially great, potentially the kind of move that elevates the Rockets not just to another level but the highest level.


Swift adds athleticism
In a conference where you're nobody without an athletic power forward, the Rockets finally got theirs.

There is a catch, of course. What did you expect, something for nothing? Or in this case the NBA's version of nothing — a $28 million to $32 million midlevel exception over five years?

Swift, a 6-10, 230-pound sculpture of what a power forward should be, must rise to the challenge and grow into his potential. No longer can he settle, like he has throughout a career that always showed promise but never superstar production worthy of a No. 2 overall selection.

On a smaller scale, Swift must do what T-Mac did last season. Find the right fit. And then prove 'em wrong.


Grizzly in doghouse
As serviceable and skilled a player as Swift has been in his five-year career, the only reason the Rockets, who are over the salary cap, could get Swift was because the Grizzlies gave up on him.

How else would you explain Memphis GM Jerry West's comments a year ago when he refused to sign Swift to a long extension, instead choosing a one-year deal.

"This is a very important year for Stromile," West told Memphis media last summer. "We expect Stromile to ... pressure us to sign him to the type of contract he is seeking."

The pressure Swift provided was negligible. He averaged just 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. More important: He averaged just 21.3 minutes per game. Those aren't star numbers, and his career numbers are slightly lower.

How else, too, would you explain the Grizzlies drafting two big men, Lawrence Roberts and Hakim Warrick, this year? Had Swift been the player the Grizzlies envisioned he would be in the middle of a fat contract and Warrick or Roberts would be elsewhere.

Swift is no T-Mac. But Swift's abilities never have been questioned, just like T-Mac's never were in his final season at Orlando.

But other things were open for interpretation. When Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello essentially suspended the disruptive Bonzi Wells for a game, Swift wore a wrist band bearing Wells' number against Fratello's wishes.

Others have questioned the extent of injuries that limited Swift over the years. Things like neck spasms, a sore toe and stomach flu led some to wonder how real those ailments were.

His relationship with West was considered icy. And while he always put up decent numbers, Swift showed nothing that would match his physical abilities and presence.

But this is his chance.

All indications are that like McGrady in Orlando, Swift's shortcomings and misfortunes in Memphis were overblown. He is neither disruptive nor anything less than professional.

Swift is potentially a tremendous addition to a team such as the Rockets, where his knack for knocking down the midrange jumper and blocking shots could be huge between McGrady and Yao Ming.

But he must forget what was said or done in Memphis — what kind of contracts he did or did not get — and begin again.

When McGrady arrived from Orlando, where his dedication toward the team and bringing 100 percent every night was questioned, he tried almost too hard to prove skeptics wrong.

Until coach Jeff Van Gundy dared McGrady to be great and made it clear the Rockets were T-Mac's team, they floundered. Once McGrady finally did grab hold of the club, he didn't let go and ignited everything. He made Yao better, everyone better and the Rockets rose to the No. 5 seed in the conference.

They had everything, except a true, speedy point guard and an athletic power forward who could offer finishes on the break and help for Yao against long, lean opponents and complementary midrange jumpers.

Now they have Swift. West didn't want him. Fratello didn't want him. Fans and media considered him nice but less than a cornerstone.

For five years, Swift possessed every ingredient necessary to become a star and a winner. Except the right fit. Here, he just might finally have found it.