I agree. Making his team better is the first job West needs to do. Without improvement, they will be kicked out of the playoff immediately next season, not by Rox, but by GS, Lakers,or maybe Jazz and Clippers. So if the trade is good to Mem, West will do it. There are too many teams he need to worry about now.
It is more probability than not. Knowing the philosophy Mr West opperates with, it is safe to say that he will not do anything that could directly help a rival. Stro is an UFA but he wants more money and only a S&T could land him the kind of money he wants unless teams like NO, ATL and the like (who can offer a little over MLE) decide to join the chase which is very unlikely. Our best chance is Marshall. I am not sure about the 90% talk......but Swift is almost certainly not going to be a Rocket. It will take a miracle and that chance is 2-4% at most. Don't wait on it.
His team is already better by subtraction. He does not need to do anything more now to send the cancer that is Stromile and Bonzie away without getting back to improve his team. This man is savvy and he knows how to cut his lose. Part of improving your team is NOT helping out direct rivals. The law of relativity kicks in and Logo knows the game in the bigger picture frame. Moreover he will get as good a deal from another regardless if there is a need to utilize S&T for Stro.
If I were handicapping: 35% Swift 35% Walker 20% Marshall 9% another PF not last year's roster (SAR, Evans) 1% no new PF at all Like I said I think Walker is our back-up plan. We not only have a lot of low cost usefull players/expiring contracts to offer (start with James or Wesley, and a pick or two), Walker would be amenable to coming here (remember any S&T the player has to agree to), and Boston would get him out of the East (not NY, not NJ). For every disadvantage you say with Swift relative to our competition for his services (Memphis wants him in the EC), there are even more advantages for us landing Walker relative to the competition for his services if we set our sites on him. Marshall is a good option if Walker/Swift, their agents, or their current teams are completely uncooperative.
Remember the owner of the Trailblazers could buy and sell Mark Cuban 10 times over; he may not be too concerned with the luxury tax.
The main contenders for Swift besides the Rockets is believed to be the Knicks, Hawks, and Clippers. The signing of Jerome James for the Knicks and the fact that they have numerous power forwards already in Malik Rose, Sweetney, Mo-T, Tim Thomas, and Jerome Williams makes them a huge longshot. With the Clippers signing Mobley, I'm not sure how much cap room that leaves the Clippers, but I know that it is unlikely that they sign 2 upper-level fre agents because Sterling hates spending money. And the Hawks, well they're the Hawks and can throw more money at him than us. I believe it will be between us and the Hawks, and assuming the difference isn't larger than about 2 million a year in the contract, I say he lands here in Houston.
I guess with some PFs finally starting to sign now, the NBA PF situation will hopefully, and most likely, turn out like this IMO: Hornets: C Anderson Heat: Haslem Knicks: J James Lakers: K Brown Nets: SAR Rox: Swift Hawks: Curry Kings: Walker Sixers: Dalembert Wiz: Marshall Bulls: Chandler What do you think?
I dont think the Hawks are in the picture as much as perhaps New Orleans. Sure the Hawks have the money but I think Stromile is down on their list. I think the Hawks are looking at pure CENTERS more. Guys like Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler and Sam Dalembert are higher on their list than Stromile. And I bet the Hawks sign one of them to an offersheet in addition to Joe Johnson. I think they have enough cap money to sign two RFA offersheets. That will tie up their money for 7 days. I think with Al Harrington, Marvin Williams and Josh Smith, Stro just doesnt fit there.
and take the clips out. They have brand and kaman and zarko rebraca at center as well as miki moore, all of whom they are pleased with.
Please.....you should know better than coming up with such elementary retort. You know how the NBA works. We are all aware of Swift's "cancerous" ways. But JVG hinted that he is willing to take risks that could threaten team chemistry. West knows that though Swift is a very problematic he is also aware that things change and in this case a young mid-twenties lad could turn it arround. Swift is a very talented potential cancer not an mediocre like Rider. West knows this and he will prefer sending Swift and his baggages to someone and avoid the risk/fear of it all coming together with us and Swift. That said, the ball is mostly and squarely in Stromile's court. If he decides he can live with the MLE, he will sign with us or whoever but if he wants more money, he ain't coming here. QED.
That is as reasonable prediction and in line with my thinking. But lots of things reshuffle the deck. E.g., NJ landing Swift via S&T, the Cavs coming in play, NO in play for Vlad Rad or Swift. I do like our chances to get Swift, Walker or Marshall, but too many factors to feel confident about any 1 guy.
FYI, Stromile is meeting with the Nets today. Nets seek Swift end to chase BY OHM YOUNGMISUK DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER While Shareef Abdur-Rahim toured Sacramento, the Nets were preparing to talk to Stromile Swift about their power forward vacancy. According to two sources, the Nets will meet with Swift today in Las Vegas, where the team is playing in a summer league. Even though the Nets' top target is Abdur-Rahim, they cannot afford to wait too long for his decision. Abdur-Rahim, who spent two days with the Nets in New Jersey last week, was in Sacramento yesterday and may still visit Miami or San Antonio. The Nets have until July 29 to use their trade exception worth nearly $5 million in a sign-and-trade deal. By using their trade exception on either Abdur-Rahim, Swift or, perhaps, Donyell Marshall, the Nets can save their mid-level exception - worth roughly $5 million - for other free agents like point guard Keyon Dooling. The Nets likely will have to execute a sign-and-trade to land one of their coveted free agents since it would allow them to sign a new power forward for up to six years and $38 million - one year and $10 million more than the mid-level offers. Swift, who has visited Houston, which can only offer him its mid-level, would seem like a better fit for the Nets than Abdur-Rahim. While Abdur-Rahim has a much more refined post game, the 25-year-old Swift is three years younger and his more athletic game suits Jason Kidd. Some are concerned about Swift's attitude since his potential has been largely untapped. The 6-9 Swift would provide many of the same strengths and weaknesses Kenyon Martin brought, but Lawrence Frank may prefer Abdur-Rahim since the two have a relationship dating back to 1997 when they were together in Vancouver. The Nets likely will wait for Abdur-Rahim's decision, but their meeting with Swift shows they will not wait too long. "There's a time element for everybody - a team time frame and player's time frame," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "And I wouldn't be surprised about anything."
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050714/SPORTS/507140565/1002 New Jersey met with free-agent forward Stromile Swift on Tuesday. Andy Miller, Swift's agent, said there was "nothing imminent" between the Nets and the No. 2 pick of the 2000 draft. A Nets source said the team's interest in Swift is genuine and not a ploy to push the Blazers into the idea of letting Abdur-Rahim go without any return. "Stromile and I have not even discussed the other variables involving the Nets," said Miller. "The only thing we have discussed is our interest level and how the situation, as presented to us, will work for us and how we can apply it."
I apologize that the URL link to the commercial appeal article that hinted of teammates questioning his "desire" this past season cannot be fished out now. All in all, the rap on him is not that bad though compared to say a Bonzi, Sheed or Ron.
