Is New Orleans the Rockets' main competitor for Stromile?

getting Swift would be an AMAZING accomplishment for the Rockets. Do whatever it takes to get him CD.


Now that I think about it, I wonder if this is what happends to all the PFs in the league.. they "do whatever it takes" and now you get Jho and MoT like contracts...

 

Someone remind me why he won't stay in Memphis?

 

so he can start...so he can make more money...so he can get more minutes.

 

http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p153.htm

And I quote: "His favorite NBA team, when he was a kid, was the Houston Rockets and his favorite player was Hakeem Olajuwon."

And I had to do one heck of a google search to find it.

 

apparently. kidzworld? wth is that.

 

exactly. i don't know why he'd come here over anywhere else but i don't see why he'd want to stay in memphis to stay behind gasol unless they just threw a ton of money at him. and i don't know why memphis would throw a ton of money at him to come off the bench.

 

The Rockets only have the MLE to offer Stromile. But we can also offer a starting PF spot right next to Yao. Stromile then could START and play PF exclusively which probably would be to his liking. Not to mention he would be a huge part of a young nucleus of Yao and Tmac working towards a championship.

As for competitors for Stromile I think just about ANY team with the use of their MLE will be trying to sign this guy. So keep that in mind.

In reality, I think Stromile's "market value" is above MLE money. The key there though is there are very few teams that have cap room that can offer above MLE to Stromile. And the teams that DO have the cap room are looking at other areas (Seattle, Cleveland, Charlotte, Clippers).

I think Atlanta is the one team with cap room that might look Stromile's way. But ideally Stromile is a PF and not a C. And Atlanta needs a PG and a C. They have their PF in Harrington. Atlanta is more interested in Dalembert and perhaps Earl Watson for PG.

Another team to watch is the NJ Nets. They dont have cap room but they have a 10M Trade Exception. They could conceivably offer Memphis their 10M T.E. plus a 1st round pick for a S&T Stromile. Of course the Grizzlies have NO power in what Stromile does since he is an UNrestricted FA but Stromile might like the chance to earn a salary starting at 10M and a starting PF spot for a team like NJ. Stromile has to see what Kidd did for Kenyon Martin's game. And for Memphis, they get a 1st round pick just for facilitating a trade of a player they have no control over so they would jump at this chance.

I definiately feel that Jerry West will try to move Stromile in a S&T so Memphis can get something for him. Of course Stromile can do whatever he wants, but he might comply with West if West can get him a good starting salary.

Keep that in mind.

In my mind it would be a serious coup for the Rockets to get Stromile. I wouldn't hold my breath on it though.

 

I disagree with your claim. Cleveland has Gooden/Varejo and is looking for a SG to pair with James. Redd is their prime target. I dont see Stromile in their plans. Seattle is looking to resign their OWN players in AD, Radmanovich, Ray Allen etc. They have their own backyard to clean up much less look at other teams players. And the Bobcats already have a PF in Okafor. They are looking to keep payroll lean and probably wouldnt sign Stromile to a big dollar deal. So NONE of those teams will be looking at Stromile as you suggest.

Atlanta had a chance to get Stromile last summer but balked. So yeah, I think it is iffy if the Hawks make another run at him this summer. The Hawks view AH as a 4 with Josh Smith as their 3 and Childress as their 2. They are looking for a PG and a C (Watson and Dalembert are the players rumored). In the "east" AH can get away with being a very servicable PF.

You could say that about any number of other players. But that's the TE that NJ has to work with so they could offer it to him. Keep in mind what a player is REALLY worth and what the MARKET dictates are 2 different things. The MARKET dictates that Bigs get paid, and ususally overpaid. It is that simple. I am sure Stromile will look at what Boozer, Okur and Camby got last offseason in comparrison to what he feels he is worth. It wasnt 10M per, but close to 8M+.

Doubtful. Have you seen Memphis' payroll? It is ENORMOUS! They arent going to sign Stro to a HUGE deal and just have him sit on the bench. He isnt even starting for his own team. Memphis hasnt made a committment to Stro (didnt do it last offseason) so I dont see him wanting to go back just to sit on the bench. And I dont see Memphis paying him 8M+ just to come off the bench either!

 

Stro is an interesting sort. I think Stro would 'settle' for the MLE from a team that really wanted him and had a starting position for him. IMO Houston would be a perfect fit except you guys have Juwan Howard and Mo Taylor and Str probably wouldn't want to jump into another muddy situation (splitting minutes) because neither one of those guys can play another position.

My best guess is Stro being resigned in Memphis and Lorenzen Wright being shipped out to make room for him in the starting lineup.

 

I don't think Swift would have any problems getting more minutes than our flower forwards.

 

My personally guess is that this will be a S&T situation. I don't know that stats, but guys that take one-year tenders as FAs don't usually stick around afterwards.

I don't see Swift taking the MLE. While it's easy to say he's not worth the money, keep in mind the silly cash that Foyle and Okur got this summer. It'll also depend on what happens with Curry and Chandler. They'll set the market.

As far as the S&T goes, Deuce's idea of the Nets moving part of their larger exception along with a #1 sounds perfectly plausable. The Rockets could try something similar, but have a much smaller exception, one that would only be slightly above the MLE. The PF logjam, as mentioned, makes it even more difficult. The Rockets probably won't be able to reel him in. Someone like Kwame Brown (ugh) is a bit more realistic.

Evan

 

If Gasol not injured, we might have a chance to sign him with MLE becasue SS did not have a nice statics with so few minutes to play. But now, he has more court time and he did grabb this chance to show his ability.

 

Stro is definately an exciting player to watch and I hope the Grizzlies hang on to him. However, I think Stro wants to play more of the Forward position instead of the Center position he is having to play now since the Grizzlies wont pick up a big man. Hence, he may be looking at going elsewhere after the season.

 

I guess I should have made myself more clear. I remember that quote. I'm just incredulous that people would use it as a basis for arguing that Swift will seriously consider the Rockets this offseason. What I meant was can anyone refer me to an article with substance that indicates Swift will seriously consider the Rockets. I certainly don't consider that quote as very relevant, and was wondering if there was a substantive article that I've missed.

 

What, you want a notarized statement or something?

The basis is simple:
-The Rockets clearly have a need at the 4, and a need for youth/athleticism.
-Swift is a 4, is young and athletic, and will be an unrestricted free agent.
-Swift at some point in his life admired the Rockets organization, and lives in a fairly close proximity to Houston.

The frontrunner? Probably not, though I don't think there can be considered a "frontrunner" for any free agent to be right now. But there's certainly enough there for both sides to seriously consider it, and talk about it.

 

As much as I'd love to see Stro as a Rocket, I don't think we have a chance. I bet he will be looking at some really good offers money wise that the Rockets can't match. And the trend is that he will choose that money.

 

Memphis has his bird right and likely the team to offer him the most.

I am not sure you know this but only about 3 or 4 teams have money under the cap to offer over MLE. I wish I could pull out that post in Mobley's thread that explained it well enough. Maybe Gater and co can chime in but there may not be money out there to pay Stromile that much as many people think - the market is going to be very limited this offseason from the look of things now.

 

But Memphis already has around 60 million committed for next year, not counting Swift, Earl Watson, or Bonzi Wells.

That's a lot of dough. Consider- Swift is averaging 21 mpg whereas Wright averages 25. That says something. Swift is a natural 4, and the Grizz's best player is also at that position.

Bonzi Wells is likely gone.

The question for MemphisX- who's a higher priority- Earl Watson or Stromile Swift?