Is Swift now expendable?

I think he was expendable the moment he got here and continues to be so. Same same for everybody not named Tracy or Yao.

 

He's still relatively affordable talent with upside. Hayes & Baxter are still unproven commodities. Plus, Swift could be groomed to be our 2nd center. Particularly when we play smaller, faster teams (like Phoenix).

 

When Hayes and/or Baxter put up consisitent numbers vs playoff caliber opponents. Not Brezec, Magliore, Bogut, Chandler and Sweetney. I loved watching both of them lately...both are fundamentally sound, Baxter is tough with good timing and Hayes has an uncanny ability to track a ball in flight and play the angles in his head so he's always in good rebounding position.

But...

They are going to have to play to the level of the Wallace "Bros", Duncan and (swallows hard) even 'irk before you can IMHO write off Swift.

Not intended to bash either Baxter or Hayes but I'm still seeing a ceiling there that their BB smarts may not be able to overcome when it gets down to the Duncan, Wallace(s), & Shaq level of physicality.

 

I hope your not implying that Swift has been able to play at their level?
Baxter and Hayes probably would be just as effective as Swift, giving that
all we've seen out of Swift is mediocre play at best.

 

Swift hasn't had enough of an opportunity here. When he finally started getting minutes he did put up some nice games. Unfortunately JVG is so weird and once a player gets in his doghouse, he just won't play him.

Swift could do well given the chance.

 

No, he's implying that they don't have the capability to play at that level, while Swift could if he ever buckled down. Baxter nor Hayes will ever be a starter.

 

People who're writing off Swift will change their minds if we have to play the likes of Dallas or T-Wolves again...we need his athleticism, height, jumping ability, and quickness to even have a shot at slowing down those premier PF in the Western Conf. Baxter or Hayes are good interchangable pieces to have, but that by no means indicates that we're past the point were we might need Swift's skill-set.

I think people here are reacting in a typical manner to what Hayes/Baxter have been able to do the past few games by dismissing the importance of other players. Calm down guys, as good as those two are, they're STILL bottom-of-the-rotation type of players. Given Deke's age and pending retirement, it's nice to have 3-4 guys you can use to mix and match with any team in the NBA; it's a nice problem to have.

 

The Hayes vs Dirk matchup intrigues me. Surely he's quicker than Juwan, and since he's more athletic than Juwan, he could possibly contest his shot. Interesting...

 

Right now he obviously isn't expendable. But if Stromile doesn't get his act together, we should at least CONSIDER trading him at the deadline IF Hayes and Baxter continue playing well. Big question mark.

The love for Hayes and Baxter is way too premature, especially since Baxter has basically proven he's not an NBA-level player over the last 3 seasons. Hayes is a new book being written.

But Stro is like Baxter. Over 5 1/2 seasons he is what he is, nothing more. He's still likely our best option at backup PF, plus he can play spare minutes at center to keep Deke's minutes down.

 

Stro's in the doghouse. JVG basically said he's out of shape and he's going to work his way back into the rotation. He's definitely going to be seeing very limited time to start with and will have to earn his minutes.

 

Stro played well before he got injured.Why all the bashing on an injured guy?We can't just criticize on somebody who's not playing ang compare him with the good performances on Hayes and Baxter.I think it's unfair to judge him while he's injured.Let's see if he plays well or not on his comeback then let us see if he is expendable or not.

 

Are you kidding? Seriously.

Stro is being "bashed" based on his performance prior to being injured. Him being injured has nothing to do with it. How many games did he play well before he got injured? Not very many. He's no different now than his 5 years at Memphis.

 

I would say not any more than before.

I would rather trade Juwan Howard if possible(with Wesley or Head) for a young, big 2 guard who would take Howard's place as a third option.

BTW, I really like the mixture we have right now at power forward position. Juwan brings scoring and professionalism, Swift brings length and athleticism and Lonny Baxter and Chuck Hayes provide hustle and rebounding. Hayes can also defend 3's and Baxter can play some 5 and so can Stromile.

 

How many years and teams does it take to convince you? I remember one (1) good game (26 and 13). Juwan has played at a much higher level, and not just scoring.

That's what everyone said until Bowen kicked Dirk's butt last year. IF the rockets somehow get it together this year, Duncan seems a shadow of his former self, k-mart is and always will be a mediocre thug, and only Stoudamire seems to be a real threat at power forward. 'course, he might not even play this year.

Really, this is the perfect time to admit it was a mistake and get rid of him. He isn't needed this year, because most of the other forwards in the west are ailing and the rockets probably won't make the playoffs anyway. Save him for next year? By then everyone will realize that cato was worlds better...

 

The last 5 games before he got injured he played well.A sign for me that he is getting the flow of JVG's plays.I know he did not play well in memphis.Hayes and Baxter played well against mediocre or weak frontline players.Hayes struggled a liitle bit against Detroit. I think the Houston management would give Stro until the end of the season to evaluate.Trading him in February would be too soon.

 

He was playing really well, let's give him some time to get it back...

Add him to the Hayes, Swift, J-ho rotation and bump Baxter.

DD

 

I don't know... JVG and company see him everyday in practice. If what he does in practice doesn't meet their expectations, or if it doesn't translate on the floor during games on a consistant basis, then I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Stro dealt by the deadline. He was playing better before his eye injury. Maybe he was turning a corner. It happens. But if CD and JVG aren't seeing what they want to see out of him (we can all draw our own conclusions about that), the fact is that he's one of our most tradeable assets.

 

remember when we thought of trading Cato and he pleaded not to be traded and give him some time.We gave him two years I think to develop.He turned out well. Swift may not be Cato and vice versa. But I think this organization has the ability to develop a player into what is expected of him.Give him until the end of the season to jell with the team then maybe consider trading him.He is still young and he will be a tradeable asset whether this season or next season.

 

Like a great man once said, "Everyone not named Yao or McGrady is expendible... Coaching staff included!"