http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3255841 For a while, Stromile Swift offered every sentiment the Rockets would have hoped he held, complete with several declarations that "I hope everything works out." ADVERTISEMENT He spoke of the Rockets' strengths and his own. He talked about his admiration for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and mentioned his childhood hero, Hakeem Olajuwon. Then he came to the bottom line, and that was, as the Rockets feared, the bottom line. Swift, a free-agent power forward who arrived in Houston on Wednesday for meetings with Rockets officials today, sounded interested in jumping to the Rockets. But with the Rockets over the salary cap and unable to offer more than the mid-level exception — which is expected to start at about $5 million for the first season of a contract — Swift said he would have to consider the difference in his asking price and the Rockets' projected offer. "A lot of times people say the dollars aren't important, but they really are," Swift said. "For me, I'm going to try to wait it out and weigh my options and see what's the best situation for me." Swift, 25, said his goal was to find "a city where I'm comfortable and happy, get a long with the players and come to a winning situation." "Just looking from the outside, I can see the chemistry. They have a good team, a good coaching staff," he said. "For me, I think that's something I want to be a part of, a winning team, and hopefully I can come in and add on to what they built here and try to help them try to bring home a championship. "It would be a great opportunity for me to come in and play with guys of that caliber and just learn on the way while having fun." Swift has met with New York Knicks officials, but he would not identify other teams he is considering. The Rockets also have been in discussions with Swift's agent, Andy Miller, about forward Donyell Marshall, and with Mark Bartelstein, the agent for forwards Bobby Simmons and Antoine Walker. All are unrestricted free agents, but all expected to receive offers greater than the mid-level exception. Bartelstein said Wednesday he had not scheduled a meeting with Rockets officials for either Simmons or Walker. As with their pursuit of Swift, however, the Rockets could seek a sign-and-trade deal with players' previous teams that would allow them to pay more than the mid-level exception. Bartelstein said it was too early to have gotten into those discussions. But speaking of Walker, he said, "(Boston Celtics general manager) Danny Ainge knows Antoine's value. He has been willing to work with us before." But today, the Rockets focus will be on Swift, 25, who has averaged nine points and five rebounds as a five-year veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies. He could bring the athleticism the Rockets would like to add to their frontcourt. "I'll bring athleticism, shot-blocking, just getting out on the fast break and running the floor," Swift said. "I think that will help the team out a lot." Houston would offer Swift a NBA city in relatively close proximity to his home in Shreveport, La. "I think Houston is probably a much better city than (Memphis)," Swift said. "Hopefully everything works out. ... I'm just enjoying the process and hopefully it will be over soon."
"I'll bring athleticism, shot-blocking, just getting out on the fast break and running the floor," Swift said. "I think that will help the team out a lot." "I think Houston is probably a much better city than (Memphis)," Swift said. "Hopefully everything works out. ... I'm just enjoying the process and hopefully it will be over soon." Geez, not to read too much into it, but he makes it sound like all that's left is to hammer out the details...
Nene might be a King. Tyson will be a bull. Swift may thrive in Van Gundy's system. He will certainly become a better defensive player. I know all of you are going to look at stats, but he mostly played behind Gasol. He showed flashes of being consistent when Pau went down to injury. Could we do a sign and trade? The Griz have several players with similar skills. The Michael Redd comparison comes to play. Should you get payed millions on a bad or decent team or go to a team with potential to win a championship. There are people that have different views than me. I respect all of your views. You are going to stress on his potential and that he underachieved. However, the Rox have enormous potential, and we underachieved. We must all agree that we need to make the moves. T-Mac and Yao are the stars. He have some good role players. We just need a couple of pieces. Swift can be an important piece.
Actually, to me it sounds like it is going to be a waiting game. Unless we can work out a sign and trade(doubtful), Swift is going to try to milk out a contract from a team with cap room. If he comes up dry, then we have a good shot. Hopefully this doesn't drag out like the Shandon Anderson deal. That was friggin torture.
news said he would meet "extensively" with CD and JVG tomorrow -- I thought he was already gone. That's encouraging..
What i got from reading this was that Swift is most likely to go to a team that pays him much more than the MLE.. but if it's not too much more than the MLE he will come play here for less than he could make at a team that is not close to contending. Hopefully tomorrow we will see more progress.
Swift didn't come to Houston to negotiate; he knows exactly how much money we can offer. The fact that, by all reports, Houston was his first visit shows that we're on ths top of his list. All things considered it seems like he would ideally like to be involved in a S&T where he would get his money and play with Houston -- "Hopefully it all works out". It's not going to happen though. No way Memphis makes a trade with a division rival where they're giving up the best player of the swap. When the smoke clears, unless a team offers him an obscene amount of money to sway him from the situation in Houston (young winning team @ MLE money), he's coming here.
Dear Mr. Swift, I know that the NBA, like any of form of business in the real world, revolves around and ultimately comes down to the almighty dollar. That's perfectly understandable and let's face it, you have made MILLIONS already as an underachieving, lackluster former #2 overall draft pick. Unless you're an idiot, I’d venture to say it’s pretty damn hard to have blown that much money already. In Houston, you have the opportunity to play for a championship contender with a guaranteed, multi-year contract, not far from your hometown in Louisiana. You have the opportunity to play with the best perimeter player in the league that could help do wonders to elevate your level of play to a extreme you could not possibly imagine (did I mention also playing alongside an All-Star center). I would love nothing more than to see a promising, gifted player such as yourself sign with the Rockets. Make the right decision, and please keep in mind you are a career 9 pt, 5 reb guy so let's not get a big head here. Sincerely, Baller4life315
You guys need to remember that the key is to get him to want the Rockets then a S&T can be worked out. Although the expiring contracts you have will not be appealing to the Grizzlies, a 3rd team with talent the Grizzlies might want and a desire to shed salary could facilitate things. Still at least 2 weeks away from signing time...lots can happen in that time.
As long as you don't come on here bashing us, saying there's no way Orl... Memphis would trade with us -- you're fine What is the Memphis press saying about Swift? Do they expect to recieve some sort of compensation via S&T or are they just cutting all ties with him?
Speaking of which, what's your opinion on the guy's play? Do the numbers lie as much as a lot of people think they do? Is he better than those numbers? Or are you just happy you got Warrick so you can wave goodbye?
Swift reminds me of a shorter Cato. In fact his stats are nearly identical on a per minute basis. Maybe there is some upside there compared to what we had with Cato.
