Mavs fansite makes for a pretty good read as well . . http://www.mavtalk.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=001219 Stro-No Jonathan Wall - 19th July, 2005 2:52 AM Could someone please tell Mark Cuban that he has a team to take care of? After finishing the season on a sour note and heading into the off- season with holes-a-plenty, Cuban just made one of the biggest blunders of the off-season by not picking up former Memphis Grizzlies star Stromile Swift. Sure Cuban doesn't have the cash right now, but coming from the "George Steinbrenner" of basketball, Cuban should've gone out of his way to nab the one piece of the puzzle he has been searching 4 years for. Swift, who's known to Mavericks fan as the, "guy who almost ripped Dirk's head off with a tomahawk dunk," decided to bolster an already great Houston frontline by signing a deal with Dallas' most hated rival Monday afternoon for the MLE. The signing of Swift not only proved the Rockets worth as a future contender, it also proved just how far the Mavericks have fallen this off-season. Team all over the league have been jockeying for position in the already crowded Western Conference, and yet, the Mavericks remain a casual viewer, while still trying to figure out what to do with Michael Finley's albatross contract. This past season, Maverick's fans begged and pleaded for the team to go out this off-season in hopes of nabbing an athletic forward; not only did the team miss the boat over the past couple of weeks by laying down on the job, but the team also just let their possible weapon to Amare Stoudemire slip away. You have to wonder what Mark Cuban is thinking over the past couple of weeks as he continues to prove that he can multi-task with the best of them. Too bad for Cuban that he didn't put his money where his mouth is. Any Maverick's fan can tell you that it's been the same song and dance each season as the team continually contends all season but never has the moxy to make it over the hump. If Cuban ever wants the chance to hoist the NBA trophy in the next 3 or 4 seasons, he will need to critically evaluate his current dealings. Last season Cuban tried to woo Jermaine O'Neal of the Indiana Pacers and Seattle Supersonics forward Rashard Lewis to Dallas in hopes of landing a forward to compliment All-Star forward Dirk Nowizki. While Cuban didn't land either star, he did show that he was serious about changing the face of the team. Since that off- season, Cuban has gone out and signed a stiff center, and a bunch of position players than have either gotten in off-court trouble, or left Maverick's fans scratching their heads. Picture a Dallas Mavericks team running the court with a shot blocking, dunk defying forward like Swift leading the break for a ferocious dunk - it's a beautiful picture isn't it? Too bad the only thing Mavericks' fans are ever going to see is Swift dunking on Mavericks' players in the worst jersey possible. Congratulations Houston, because you're the new winner in the Stromile Swift sweepstakes. If you're a Maverick's fan, those words are enough to make you sick. Mark Cuban! What is going on?
I love how the Lakers and Mavericks, etc... think they had a shot at Swift. Just because he accepted our mid level exception it doesn't mean there was a chance in hell he accepted there's. Who wants to play with Kobe Bryant and trash? Who wants to be a on a team when your so called superstar is Dirk Nowitski?
At this point, we still don't know that Stro has signed for the MLE. With a few days to go before FA's are allowed to sign, Memphis has some options on a sign and trade. They have to figure out if they just let the guy walk to a wastern conference rival, or if they try to seek something in return. My bet? West ain't stupid. He'd rather have something than nothing. Expect a SnT to be coming. And SS will get his 7-8 mill....
The worst possible jersey was their own space man, shiny silver pajamas that they wore opening day against the Lakers a couple season back.
what the hell is mcgrady doing in Czechoslovakia? Tracy is doing a photo shoot or a commercial over there. Not sure on much of the details, but I was behind the scenes of his trip going over there. Its being shot at an arena there. Don't remember the exact date ( Im not at work started my four days off) but im thinking he should return Today.
now, i'm not gonna jump on the stro-swift bandwaggon just YET..i dunno much about him ..and haven't seen him play that much..BUT i gotta respect him for having such great character ..he could of make 40-45 millions but he choose 25-30 mil? ..that just show his desire to win I applaud him...and i hope he make me jump on the bandwaggon next year
This quote is so beautiful it should be repeated over and over again. "That's real, real big for us," McGrady, who worked to recruit Swift, told the Houston Chronicle from Czechoslovakia. "I'm going to do my best to turn him into an All-Star player, too. "
Exactly, it's their sense of 'entitlement' that really irritates me. Like all good players should just gravitate towards them. The Rockets were steadfast in their wanting for Swift. Tmac recruited him and that's that.
Stromile Swift was the subject of one of the funniest things I have ever heard during and NBA broadcast: Walton (thinking out loud): Stromile, now there's an interesting name. Marv, do you know anybody else named Stromile? Marv (confused): Uh ... no, Bill. Just the player. How about you? Any friends named Stromile? Walton (dead serious): Oh, lots of my friends are named Stromile. Maybe I should make that my sig.
West has no say in any of this...unfortunately for him. If Stro wants to be a Rocket then West can seek all of the sign and trade deals he wants but it will do him no good since Stro wants to be a Rocket.
Great pickup and great posts. Thanks for the videos of Swift. For me the most satisfying moment in Rockets off season history since acquiring the number one pick and Yao. The McGrady acquisition was great, but we knew there would be some big holes with Franciis, Cato and Mobley, one of my all time favorite Rockets. So there was some downside to me. Getting Swift at this price is is like we got the second pick this year. Unbelievable upside, some uncertainty. Just the type of risk taking that the Rockets promised. Just the type of excitment needed to make me look forward to the season.
Reup of Fox news clip. Thanks on behalf of all us out of towners. http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0R8VK8GJHHTI00361E773TVCU3
Ummm . . . SAR ain't no good samaritan. He's already been paid. I mean last year alone he made about half of what Swift will get for the length of his 5 yr deal.
i smell blood. keep goin' cd, go for the jugular. if we tighten up our backcourt we will be a dominant team next year. yeeeeeeeeeees!
Well, the main problem with going to Dallas is that Swift would never get to start (at power forward) when the team is built around Nowitzki. If he's taking someone's MLE, he can at least look for a competitive team with an opening at power forward. Those criteria reduce the field to only a couple of teams. And, Dallas and Lakers definitely don't fit that description.
