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It's official: West is Thrilled with Swift's Return

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Old Man Rock, Jul 12, 2006.

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  1. Old Man Rock

    Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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    Grizzlies finalize trade of Battier for Swift, Gay
    July 12, 2006

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies completed a trade sending forward Shane Battier to the Houston Rockets for Stromile Swift and Rudy Gay on Wednesday.

    Gay, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Connecticut, started 59 games and averaged 13.6 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. He was taken with the eighth overall pick in the draft. Gay signed a two-year deal with team options for a third and fourth years immediately after the trade was completed.

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    "We are hopeful people will enjoy watching this special kind of athlete. With the addition of Rudy, Stromile, and our other draft picks, this will be a year that will create opportunities for our young players to play and our veterans to share their insight and experience," said Jerry West, president of basketball operations.

    The deal also brings back Swift, a 6-9, 230-pound forward the Grizzlies allowed to leave as a free agent last summer. He was the second overall pick by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies in 2000 and left ranked second in team history in blocks with 835 and sixth in points (3,172) and rebounds (1,749).

    Swift averaged 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 66 games with Houston.

    "Last year we missed his ability to change the game through his shot-blocking and versatility to play multiple positions, and we are thrilled with his return," West said.

    But the Grizzlies gave up Battier, the team's first draft pick after moving to Memphis from Vancouver. Battier was the sixth pick overall in the 2001 draft.

    The 6-8, 220-pound forward leaves Memphis after five seasons as the franchise's all-time leader in games played (396) and steals (507). Battier ranked second in 3-pointers made (389), third in blocks (418) and fourth in points (4,160).

    But the Grizzlies have yet to win a playoff game in their first three appearances, setting an NBA record for futility by losing their first 12 postseason games.

    "Our city will miss him, but we are hopeful that a move like this will ensure future growth and success for the franchise," West said.
     
    #1 Old Man Rock, Jul 12, 2006
  2. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

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    I still can't believe we didn't get the 24th pick or a Future pick in return.
     
    #2 gucci888, Jul 12, 2006
  3. Chilly_Pete

    Chilly_Pete Member

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    It's mind boggling.
     
    #3 Chilly_Pete, Jul 12, 2006
  4. MrButtocks

    MrButtocks Member

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    Well there's nothing more to the trade. Swift+Gay for Battier. And no Mike James.

    Jesus H. Christ, help us rockets fans.
     
    #4 MrButtocks, Jul 12, 2006
  5. Aruba77

    Aruba77 Member

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    twist the knife in further why don't you!!!!!!!!!!!! :(
     
    #5 Aruba77, Jul 12, 2006
  6. xiki

    xiki Member

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    Yes. At the least.
     
    #6 xiki, Jul 12, 2006
  7. Amel

    Amel Member

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    Good luck Swify...

    I will miss your superb attention for detail when it comes to offense.
     
    #7 Amel, Jul 12, 2006
  8. roswell raygun

    roswell raygun Member

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    I wonder how sincere West is with his Swift comments. Memphis never tried very hard to keep him when he was there.
    I think he's thrilled to have Rudy Gay, and there's no reason at this point not to say nice things about Stromile.
     
    #8 roswell raygun, Jul 12, 2006
  9. Van Gundier

    Van Gundier Member

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    who often looks like he's playing in a special kind of Olympics.
     
    #9 Van Gundier, Jul 12, 2006
  10. Old Man Rock

    Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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    I just couldn't resist. Van Gundy is thrilled to be rid of Swift and West is thrilled to get him back. It's must be insanity.
     
    #10 Old Man Rock, Jul 12, 2006
  11. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Member

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    Oh well, water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned, time to move on and look at whats in store for our team.
     
    #11 GRENDEL, Jul 12, 2006
  12. ColbyTheRed

    ColbyTheRed New Member

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    I wish they (GM's & Owners) would just speak the truth.

    Everyone has to remeber that this was one of the weaker Drafts in recent years & a weak free agent class to boot! I think shane will be great add. to the team. As far as MJ he is just mad beacuse the only thing he shares with Jordan are his int. 4 year contract and a trade kicker on a player that will never have the year he had last year. Come on guys the rockets did a good thing! the guy is 31 or 32 for crying out loud!
     
    #12 ColbyTheRed, Jul 12, 2006
  13. Williamson

    Williamson JOSH CHRISTOPHER ONLY FAN

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    He's not really thrilled to have Swift back. That's just lip service.
     
    #13 Williamson, Jul 12, 2006
  14. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    nice post.

    all gay would've done for us next season is backup tmac. swift would've been a bench guy as well. at least now we have shane who is a real starter and an upgrade over wesley for sure.

    HAYES can give us more than what stro gave us last season. shane will give us more than what gay can give us for the next couple of seasons.

    this was a positive move (for now).

    as for not signing MJ...it has it's pro's and con's, just like signing him had pro's and con's. as long as we get a backup PG (banks) and some extra help at the 4/5 (cato). this will be a decent offseason.
     
    #14 smoothie, Jul 12, 2006
  15. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Member

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    My thoughts exactly, I think peoples knee jerk reactions are getting waaay out of hand, as if the death knell was rung with this trade and the Mike James situation
     
    #15 GRENDEL, Jul 12, 2006
  16. hooi

    hooi Member

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    Swift is going to become the next Big Shot Bob :D
     
    #16 hooi, Jul 12, 2006
  17. markus4040

    markus4040 Member

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    I won't be totally satisfied with this deal until Gay is a bust and Stro performs like he did here this past season. For some reason I think Gay will be an impact player much sooner than popular opinion.
     
    #17 markus4040, Jul 12, 2006
  18. Van Gundier

    Van Gundier Member

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    What exactly was West supposed to say?

    "We are stuck in mediocrity now, so that means we are desperate enough to gamble on Rudy Gay's talent even though we question his killing instinct due to the fact that he did not step up against Gerry McNamara, he did nothing to help hold Steve Novak under 41 points and 16 (!) rebounds. In such a weak draft, even Rudy Gay gets to be top 2 talent"

    "As for Stromile Swift. We are absolutely thrilled to have him back. Why? Because we just lost Lorenzen Wright to FA and Lo sucks even more than Stromile does. Besides, the only other alternative to making the salaries match was to eat Juwan Howard's contract. I'd rather deal with the evil we know"
     
    #18 Van Gundier, Jul 12, 2006
  19. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

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    Gay might have only been a backup for TMac, but for right now, TMac's only backup is Ryan Bowen. The same goes for Swift, he might have been a bench player, but a PF rotation of Howard/Hayes is very troublesome IMO.

    I do agree that Battier gives a legit starter, but at what expense? As of right now, I honestly think we have the least depth out of contending teams (Head, Hayes, Bowen, Deke). The Rockets MUST address our depth.
     
    #19 gucci888, Jul 12, 2006
  20. mike87321

    mike87321 Member

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    Agreed. Do you really expect him to badmouth Swift and the team to his local media?
     
    #20 mike87321, Jul 12, 2006
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