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Is New Orleans the Rockets' main competitor for Stromile?

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by jopatmc, Jan 31, 2005.

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  1. jopatmc

    jopatmc Member

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    Just a little speculation on my part. He's from that area.



    Memphis' Swift wowing opponents
    Shreveport native has improved this year
    Monday, January 31, 2005
    By John Reid
    Staff writer

    The Memphis Grizzlies' Stromile Swift showed on one play against the Houston Rockets earlier this month why he might get plenty of attention from teams, including the Hornets, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

    Rockets 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming had the lane blocked and was set on not letting Swift get up a shot. But Swift, who is 6-9, took two steps before dunking the ball in Yao's face.

    It left Yao playing tentatively, unsure how to limit Swift for the remainder of the game. Swift, who plays center and power forward, scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting against Yao in a 99-80 Grizzlies victory.

    Since Swift, who left LSU after his sophomore season, was the second overall pick in the 2000 NBA draft by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies, he has ravaged opponents with his forceful dunks and shot-blocking skills.

    Yet, the primary question about his play is whether he can do more than just dunk. But Swift has shown ability to make hook shots and 10-foot turnaround jumpers. He hopes to make those types of shots today at 7 p.m. when the Grizzlies play the Hornets at New Orleans Arena.

    "I know that I've been able to have a little success in the league just by outrunning and outjumping people," Swift said by telephone last week. "But during the past few summers, I've been putting up a lot of jump shots.

    "My focus is to get better every year, but my progress has not gone as fast like I expected. But I'm improving, and that's all I can ask."

    Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said that in every game against the Grizzlies this season, Swift's athleticism has disrupted the Rockets. In a 90-87 loss to Houston in November, Swift beat Yao so badly on drives in the post that Yao could only foul. Swift made 12-of-13 free throws and scored 18 points. Yao fouled out after scoring 14 points.

    "His quickness and athleticism have really hurt us," Van Gundy said. "But again, I don't know if that translates to every game, every opponent. It will be interesting to see where it projects over time with him."

    Swift has been asked by Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello to step up since leading scorer Pau Gasol went on the injured list this month with an injured foot. Swift has scored in double figures in four of the past five games as a starter.

    "Since Pau went out, I've just tried to come in and do my part by bringing energy and just playing hard," said Swift, a Shreveport native.

    "We have a lot of guys on this team who can play. If one guy goes down, there is always someone to fill in. Coach Fratello isn't that much different from Coach (Hubie) Brown (who retired in December). Both of them stress defense a lot."

    Swift is expected to get offers from several NBA teams during this upcoming free-agency period. Swift was a restricted free agent last season when he signed a one-year, $5.9 million deal to remain with the Grizzlies.

    "I think the sky is the limit for Stromile, because I don't see why he can't be like (Phoenix Suns forward) Amare Stoudemire with the ability he has," said the Hornets' P.J. Brown, who will be matched against Swift tonight.

    One of Swift's most productive stretches came Dec. 7, when he had a season-high six blocks against the New York Knicks; the next night, he had five against the Atlanta Hawks.

    In his first four seasons, Swift has averaged more than 80 blocks. After 41 games, this season, he leads the Grizzlies with 72. Last season, he had a team-high 118 blocks.

    "Each year, he seems to add something to his game," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "But I thought when he first came into the league, he was just a dunker. Now, he's a rebounder and doing much better shooting the ball. I think he's getting comfortable and confident in his game."
     
    #1 jopatmc, Jan 31, 2005
  2. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    he would be perfect for us.

    we won't get him though...
     
    #2 smoothie, Jan 31, 2005
  3. xiki

    xiki Member

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    On the one hand I am not sold on SS 'for the $$$'.
    On the other hand Griz have his Bird rights. So, if Rox wanted him what deal could they make to get him? If he were worth enough $$$ to keep Griz from retaining him, that is?

    SS is somewhat like Gooden. Talented, but mentally floating.
     
    #3 xiki, Jan 31, 2005
  4. lalala902102001

    lalala902102001 Member

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    I think that chances are that Swift will get a contract that starts around 6-7 million dollars. I don't think that we are in the run for it.
     
    #4 lalala902102001, Jan 31, 2005
  5. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    If he played 40 minutes, he'd be an 18 and 10 type of guy.
     
    #5 Oski2005, Jan 31, 2005
  6. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

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    we can't go over the MLE, but if he makes it clear he prefers us (not sure why he'd do that, but if he did) and memphis doesn't wanna lose him for nothing, we could use spoon's expiring contract (which i think is around $6M and thus over the MLE and maybe a nice year one salary) and then some combo of another player or our 1st round pick to give memphis to do the s&t? or wesley's contract and something else but since spoon doesn't do anything for us we can lose him and not notice.

    now who knows how much stro wants, if memphis wants to pay for it, or if they'd help us out but it seems like it could be worked out.

    i've never been that high on stro but after watching him against us and orlando and then the game after that i came away pretty impressed. he's got much more offensive game (even a few low post moves, not just the jumper) than i thought and he seems to like to block shots (now watch him have a horrible bpg). definitely worth getting on our team for a pretty high price and he's in the perfect age range with tmac and yao.
     
    #6 francis 4 prez, Jan 31, 2005
  7. dharocks

    dharocks Member

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    What makes you think the Rockets are the frontrunners for Swift in the first place?
     
    #7 dharocks, Jan 31, 2005
  8. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

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    while there's nothing that says we're the frontrunner (is there a frontrunner at this point?) i would sure hope we're thinking of going after him big time. we've been looking for a PF forever and here's a young one that rebounds and blocks shots (a great 1.8 bpg in only 21.5 minutes) and hits that jumper we all want so we best be one of the teams in contention for him and you would think we would want him more than just about anyone.
     
    #8 francis 4 prez, Jan 31, 2005
  9. xiki

    xiki Member

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    Swift v Duncan
    Swift v Garnett
    Swift v Dirk
    Swift v Sheed
    Swift v Odom

    Anyone know how well he handles any/all of those match ups?
     
    #9 xiki, Jan 31, 2005
  10. RocketsFAN3035

    RocketsFAN3035 Member

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    why isn't he playing 40 minutes?.......I mean, if he is that good, he should play, right?
     
    #10 RocketsFAN3035, Jan 31, 2005
  11. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

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    memphis plays a lot of guys plus pau gasol is their starting PF. pau is better than stro and thus stro doesn't get as many minutes as he could. with us he would certainly get 30+ minutes.
     
    #11 francis 4 prez, Jan 31, 2005
  12. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

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    The team that can offer him money and a chance for a title (in that order) would probably have the inside track (obviously).

    If the Rockets have any advantage, it will depend on the new CBA, the possible lockout, the fact that the Rockets were Stromile's favorite team when he was growing up....

    If no one offers him better than the MLE, we're in there. But that's a big IF.
     
    #12 ROXTXIA, Jan 31, 2005
  13. Davidoff

    Davidoff Member

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    I think we all would love to have him here, if CD could get it done that be a hella good team next year.. I also think we should try to keep Deke and Jon Barry- Are both FA at the end of the year??
     
    #13 Davidoff, Jan 31, 2005
  14. RocketsFAN3035

    RocketsFAN3035 Member

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    are they still sticking with that 10 man rotation thing?? If so than who plays the 4 and 5 infront of SS?? I know Pau is one, and I'm assuming BCardnal is the other(but he's been hurt). I know they had a log jam at the 3/2 with Battier/Possey/Miller.......do they run a small lineup??
     
    #14 RocketsFAN3035, Jan 31, 2005
  15. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    Better than anyone we have.

    The Rockets would be wise to do anything it takes to get his young man.

    DD
     
    #15 DaDakota, Jan 31, 2005
  16. dharocks

    dharocks Member

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    Lorenzen Wright plays in front of Swift.

    There will be A LOT of suitors for Stro.

    I think the Hawks will be offering him a big deal, despite the contract that they gave Al Harrington (more of a 3, anyway).

    Phoenix and NJ will both offer the full MLE, I imagine. He'd be perfect for them. Ditto Washington if they play well in the postseason (and give up on Kwame Brown). Isiah's gonna try to swing a S&T, but probably without any success.

    He likes the Rockets. That's what we have going for us. But a word of warning:

    Stro is still inconsistent, and despite his NASTY shotblocking, he's not a good position defender. He also can get sloppy with his rebounding, and doesn't always box out (he makes up for it most of the time with quick leaping). His jumpshot is till a work in progress, and he's really a poor man's Kenyon Martin in the post, offensively.

    This is a player with some flaws - keep that in mind. If we're able to sign him he'll help, but he'll also be frusturating at times. Just some food for thought.
     
    #16 dharocks, Jan 31, 2005
  17. jopatmc

    jopatmc Member

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    Hehehehehehe

    Yeah, like we ain't frustrated with our 4's now. Is there a better 4 available this season besides the #1 overall pick for Bogut?
     
    #17 jopatmc, Jan 31, 2005
  18. xiki

    xiki Member

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    "Yeah, but..." better than anyone we have leaves him how accomplished against that list?
     
    #18 xiki, Jan 31, 2005
  19. blabla

    blabla Member

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    As I remembered, the young guy asked for the contract of 60M for six years and Mem rejected to this ask. It is even more difficult for us to pick him up becasue he got more mins after Gasol was injured. His sta going up in recent games. So MLE will not satisfied this guy. Can we use 4M cash+Taylor for Net's TE+2nd pick? We really need some cap space to get a good PG and PF in this summer.
     
    #19 blabla, Jan 31, 2005
  20. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    Can someone post a link to whatever article that quotes Swift as liking the Rockets? The only thing I've ever heard even close to that was Swift liking the Rockets growing up. I also think this thread title needs to be changed. It's completely misleading.

    I'd like Swift, but people keep bringing him up as if we have a shot at him, and unless I'm missing something, we don't have much to offer.
     
    #20 Relativist, Jan 31, 2005
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