According to Hoopshype - Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans, Denver, Cleveland (Big Z), Seattle (Allen), Washington, Chicago, Golden State, Milwaukee (Redd) & New Jersey will have contracts for less that 38M next year. Probably a missed contract in there & some will try and sign their own FAs but that is alot of teams (11) that can offer 7M+ starting salary. Swift will surely get a big offer from one of these unless he is traded.
I wouldn't mind getting Simmons. But I'd rather find a true SF who'd let us play Tracy back at his natural position. Three guards is a gimmick lineup that shouldn't be a long-term plan. Simmons is a tweener.
Simmons a tweener? I've watched this guy play a lot man, I couldn't disagree with everything you've said anymore. You can't go by the fact that some websites list him as a "G-F." He's as true of a SF as anybody in the league. He's a very strong and athletic player that's not quick enough to guard SG's. He doesn't have an outside shot. He reminds of me of Ron Artest---not as good of a defender but brings the same energy and toughness under the basket. He's a very good rebounder for a SF. He would be a nice addition......IF we needed a SF, which we don't. T-Mac has been very effective as a SF.
Not going by what websites list his position at... Look, you've got a guy who plays a SF game, who's not quick enough to guard SGs and lacks an outside shot (all your words) but who's SG-height (6'6"). Sounds like the very definition of a tweener. He's shorter than McGrady, and nowhere near the size of guys like Odom or Rashard or Bobby Horry back in the day.
So you are basing your entire argument on the fact that he is a 6'6" SF? Pretty weak man..... Height isn't everything.
what the heck? You say you watched him alot and then you go on to say he doesn't have an outside shot? Is it wrong to stay with a great midrange game than jack up 3s? He's shooting 40% from downtown. Over 50 attempts. YOu can't say he doesn't have an outside shot because he does. He's most dangerous around the 18-20 feet range. I live in Los Angeles so i know. And he's not a tweener. He's very well built and he defended Tmac pretty well iirc. He definietly plays bigger than 6'6.
oh yeah and i would love him to be on the rockets. I've said it many times. He's going to get the full MLE whether he deserves it or not. And he deserves it.
Let me clarify..... He doesn't take many 3 point attempts, and you are right when you said he hits a good percentage of them. I know this. What I really meant to say originally is "he doesn't take many outside shots" in support of my argument that he is more of a SF than a SG. I type fast and I usually don't preview my posts. For situations like this, I need to start doing that.
Check those again. Most of these teams are listed as under the cap, but aren't really because you notice that they're missing some salary figures. New Orleans doesn't list down Magloire's extension, Golden State doesn't list down Murphy or Richardson, New Jersey doesn't have Jefferson, Denver doesn't list down Miller or Boykins (and the last thing they would need is another big man). Chicago has to sign the Baby Bulls, Washington has Hughes, and Charlotte can only work with 75% of the cap in their second season. So between all of the teams with committed salary, or their own FAs the only team with significant cap room is Atlanta, and to a lessor extent Charlotte. Atlanta is the only team that I'm afraid will break the bank to sign Swift. Seems like Charlotte desperately needs help in the backcourt before they need another PF. So unless Atlanta throws the house at Swift, I really think that we can sign him.
Seattle might go after him. They have 3 big guys (Potapenko, James, Evans) with expriring contracts. In any event, I would be suprised if Swift's largest offer is the MLE. Not that I wouldn't like it, I just don't see it happening.
If Evans is an unrestricted free agent, then I think the Rockets should go after him. He's one of the best rebounders in the NBA right now.
Bingo! And Atlanta is looking more towards a "true" center in Dalembert since they plan on playing Al Harrington at PF and Josh Smith at SF.
