Rockets appeal to Swift
Forward believes he'd be a nice fit if price is right
For a while, Stromile Swift offered every sentiment the Rockets would have hoped he held, complete with several declarations that "I hope everything works out."
He spoke of the Rockets' strengths and his own.
He talked about his admiration for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and mentioned his childhood hero, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Then he came to the bottom line, and that was, as the Rockets feared, the bottom line.
Swift, a free-agent power forward who arrived in Houston on Wednesday for meetings with Rockets officials today, sounded interested in jumping to the Rockets. But with the Rockets over the salary cap and unable to offer more than the mid-level exception — which is expected to start at about $5 million for the first season of a contract — Swift said he would have to consider the difference in his asking price and the Rockets' projected offer.
"A lot of times people say the dollars aren't important, but they really are," Swift said. "For me, I'm going to try to wait it out and weigh my options and see what's the best situation for me."
Swift, 25, said his goal was to find "a city where I'm comfortable and happy, get a long with the players and come to a winning situation."
"Just looking from the outside, I can see the chemistry. They have a good team, a good coaching staff," he said. "For me, I think that's something I want to be a part of, a winning team, and hopefully I can come in and add on to what they built here and try to help them try to bring home a championship.
"It would be a great opportunity for me to come in and play with guys of that caliber and just learn on the way while having fun."
Swift has met with New York Knicks officials, but he would not identify other teams he is considering.
The Rockets also have been in discussions with Swift's agent, Andy Miller, about forward Donyell Marshall, and with Mark Bartelstein, the agent for forwards Bobby Simmons and Antoine Walker. All are unrestricted free agents, but all expected to receive offers greater than the mid-level exception.
Bartelstein said Wednesday he had not scheduled a meeting with Rockets officials for either Simmons or Walker. As with their pursuit of Swift, however, the Rockets could seek a sign-and-trade deal with players' previous teams that would allow them to pay more than the mid-level exception.
Bartelstein said it was too early to have gotten into those discussions. But speaking of Walker, he said, "(Boston Celtics general manager) Danny Ainge knows Antoine's value. He has been willing to work with us before."
But today, the Rockets focus will be on Swift, 25, who has averaged nine points and five rebounds as a five-year veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies. He could bring the athleticism the Rockets would like to add to their frontcourt.
"I'll bring athleticism, shot-blocking, just getting out on the fast break and running the floor," Swift said. "I think that will help the team out a lot."
Houston would offer Swift a NBA city in relatively close proximity to his home in Shreveport, La.
"I think Houston is probably a much better city than (Memphis)," Swift said. "Hopefully everything works out. ... I'm just enjoying the process and hopefully it will be over soon."
What do you guys think?
Forward believes he'd be a nice fit if price is right
For a while, Stromile Swift offered every sentiment the Rockets would have hoped he held, complete with several declarations that "I hope everything works out."
He spoke of the Rockets' strengths and his own.
He talked about his admiration for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and mentioned his childhood hero, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Then he came to the bottom line, and that was, as the Rockets feared, the bottom line.
Swift, a free-agent power forward who arrived in Houston on Wednesday for meetings with Rockets officials today, sounded interested in jumping to the Rockets. But with the Rockets over the salary cap and unable to offer more than the mid-level exception — which is expected to start at about $5 million for the first season of a contract — Swift said he would have to consider the difference in his asking price and the Rockets' projected offer.
"A lot of times people say the dollars aren't important, but they really are," Swift said. "For me, I'm going to try to wait it out and weigh my options and see what's the best situation for me."
Swift, 25, said his goal was to find "a city where I'm comfortable and happy, get a long with the players and come to a winning situation."
"Just looking from the outside, I can see the chemistry. They have a good team, a good coaching staff," he said. "For me, I think that's something I want to be a part of, a winning team, and hopefully I can come in and add on to what they built here and try to help them try to bring home a championship.
"It would be a great opportunity for me to come in and play with guys of that caliber and just learn on the way while having fun."
Swift has met with New York Knicks officials, but he would not identify other teams he is considering.
The Rockets also have been in discussions with Swift's agent, Andy Miller, about forward Donyell Marshall, and with Mark Bartelstein, the agent for forwards Bobby Simmons and Antoine Walker. All are unrestricted free agents, but all expected to receive offers greater than the mid-level exception.
Bartelstein said Wednesday he had not scheduled a meeting with Rockets officials for either Simmons or Walker. As with their pursuit of Swift, however, the Rockets could seek a sign-and-trade deal with players' previous teams that would allow them to pay more than the mid-level exception.
Bartelstein said it was too early to have gotten into those discussions. But speaking of Walker, he said, "(Boston Celtics general manager) Danny Ainge knows Antoine's value. He has been willing to work with us before."
But today, the Rockets focus will be on Swift, 25, who has averaged nine points and five rebounds as a five-year veteran with the Memphis Grizzlies. He could bring the athleticism the Rockets would like to add to their frontcourt.
"I'll bring athleticism, shot-blocking, just getting out on the fast break and running the floor," Swift said. "I think that will help the team out a lot."
Houston would offer Swift a NBA city in relatively close proximity to his home in Shreveport, La.
"I think Houston is probably a much better city than (Memphis)," Swift said. "Hopefully everything works out. ... I'm just enjoying the process and hopefully it will be over soon."
What do you guys think?
Darius Miles
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