So you think Marshall is more like Thorpe than Swift? Your plan also has risk of whether we'd be able to find a replacement for him in upcoming years at a reasonable price. We basically know that the caliber of PF that we can get in the draft at a low pick probably won't be as good as Swift. A young PF in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. And, we will probably need to use our draft picks on guards.
Hell, I'd be happy to have a 4 (or a 5) who could throw an outlet pass like Otis. Damn, he was amazing at it! The basketball was like an orange in his hand. Just too much.
Signing this guy was a no-brainer. If he plays like he did in Memphis, he's better than any PF we have already. If he plays to his potential, it will go into Rockets history as one of the best Free Agent pick ups ever. Heck, even if he sucks and the Rockets decide they are better off without him, there are a dozen teams that would trade for a young, athletic PF with potential making mid-level money. You could wash your hands of him if he blew up horribly with almost no real loss to your organization. Signing Swift = Lots to gain, little to lose.
I think we're all going to be surprised at how good Swift will be for us this year. Even if he duplicates his production from last year (9 and 5) we have still improved. We were on a roll last year with Howard averaging those numbers, and Swift can add that in addition to defensive athleticism. When he got minutes with Memphis last year, he almost always put up 15+ points and that was in their motion offense. Aside from the obvious impact he will make defensively, his ability to take a few dribbles and drive to the basket for the dunk will improve us by leaps and bounds. I think 14 and 8 isn't out of the question for this first year.
I understand the point and i would have rather had SAR, but if they feel like he's the best player for this team, so be it. He is what he is, a atheletic big who is still 25 yrs old. He needs to learn to stay out of foul trouble and be consistent. Hopefully he will, be everyone will be watching.
Viewing the torrent of Swift from the other thread just now has raised my hopes for him. He's more like Amare than I thought. If JVG can get his engine running every game, this guy can make a big difference for our team. But that is a big if.
Original question was "Why is everyone so high on Swift?" The question is already one with a false assumption (everyone). Regardless, the Swift acq is the most cost effective deal the Rox could have made, hands down. The team is about Yao and TMac, everyone else is a supporter. Nice to have a guy as athletic as Swift - if he becomes a team player, we're gonna love the guy.
Don't hate! Swift is a big spectacular player that never really had his chance even with a team that was starting to reach the playoffs. He's one of the big reason I'm being so optimistic about the Rocks' season.
