[CHRON] Swift itching to make deal official with Rockets

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3289558

Forward to sign on Tuesday now that labor deal is on the books
By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle




LEAGUE CITY - Stromile Swift was, appropriately enough, sporting a red T-shirt as he repeatedly scribbled his name on an assortment of caps and basketballs offered by autograph seekers Saturday afternoon at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.

When a fan elevated his voice above the throng by screaming "Welcome to H-town!," the impromptu greeting had implications that reached well beyond the celebrity softball event that brought Swift to Houston in the first place.

Late Friday, the NBA and players' union completed the paperwork on a new six-year collective bargaining agreement, a move that cleared the way for free agents to sign with the team of their choice.

For Swift, that means scribbling his name on a contract from the Rockets on Tuesday and completing a deal reached between the free-agent forward and the franchise on July 18.

"I'll be pretty relieved," Swift, a participant in the softball game hosted by and benefiting the foundation of Rockets swingman Tracy McGrady, said of the end of the moratorium on signings. "I'm just ready to get it over with. I'm looking forward to getting it started."

The "it" is his Rockets career. After spending his first five NBA seasons with the Vancouver and later Memphis Grizzlies, Swift, 25, will sign a five-year contract with the Rockets expected to be worth $28 million to $32 million.

"This is a great group of guys. It's a good team, a good organization," Swift said. "This was the best situation for me. I've always been a Rockets fan. It's an easy decision."

If Swift, a 6-10, 230-pound bundle of athleticism, wasn't convinced to join the Rockets through McGrady's recruiting tactics, he was won over by the visit Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson paid to Swift and his family in his native Shreveport, La.

"That kind of stuck with me," Swift said of Dawson's visit. "That's pretty big. To feel wanted in a situation helps out a lot. That's the biggest part. That's the whole thing."

After reaching an agreement with Swift, the Rockets turned their attention to Portland free-agent guard Damon Stoudamire, who had indicated an interest in joining the team.


A $10.7 million gap
Bridging the financial gap that separated the two sides — Stoudamire made $12.5 million with the Blazers last season while the Rockets could offer only their salary-cap exemption of $1.8 million — appeared the lone obstacle preventing an agreement.

Sources on Friday said Stoudamire had reached an agreement with the Grizzlies on a four-year, $17 million deal, but Stoudamire said nothing is imminent at this point.

"The parameters of the deal have been discussed, but there's nothing official about that yet," Stoudamire said on Saturday. "Houston would be a great place to play. It just seems right now that Portland is like trying to block everything that I'm doing and not really trying to work with the situation."

Despite the offer from Memphis, Stoudamire hasn't closed the door on the Rockets.

"I would've been in Houston the first day of free agency if I could just get Portland to do something," Stoudamire said, referring to a sign-and-trade. "I understand that this is a business. For me to ask for something like that is unrealistic. But I'm just looking for a number that I could be comfortable with because I don't think anybody wants to be in a situation where you wouldn't be happy. The situation in Houston is very enticing."


Barry wants to stay
Rockets free-agent guard Jon Barry expressed a desire to resign with the team, contrary to rumors of an interest by the New Jersey Nets. Barry joined the Rockets last December via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

"I haven't heard one word from the Nets," Barry said. "Five or six people have told me that the Nets were interested, but I haven't spoken with them. I've heard a lot of stuff in my 13 years, and until I sign on the dotted line, who knows what might happen?

"With the addition of Stromile and everybody else back, I truly believe in this team."