[NY Daily News] Nets Seek Swift to End Chase

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/327239p-279732c.html

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."