Spurs should deal for Stromile Swift

[rag-time4]

The Lakers success with the pick and roll showed that Duncan needs more help around him defensively.

Stromile would be a great help defensively with his quickness and shot blocking ability.

Offensively, Stromile would give the Spurs another player who can be effective at driving and attacking the basket, and drawing fouls.

Stromile's contract will expire after this season, so if he doesn't work out the Spurs wouldn't have to re sign him. Considering his ability, his current contract is a steal. If the Spurs got him and LET HIM PLAY I think he might be glad to re sign with them for a reasonable price if he is happy. He has not had a lot of opportunity to really play throughout his career, but he's just what the Spurs need.

Stromile
Swift

And a little Bill Russell style defense for ya

[Blame Rasho]

I think he is honestly too dumb to get rotation mins from pop even if somehow we could trade for him and his big salary.

[rag-time4]

I think he is honestly too dumb to get rotation mins from pop even if somehow we could trade for him and his big salary.

What makes you think he's dumb?

[lukeridenour]

im not high on high potential players who dont work out. why? because more often than not these are the reasons:

-stupid
-poor work ethic
-not competitive
-content with losing as long as they get paid
-passion is fame/too comfortable with the lifestyle
-unagressive.

so personally i would pass unless hes willing to play for the minimum.

[rag-time4]

im not high on high potential players who dont work out. why? because more often than not these are the reasons:

-stupid
-poor work ethic
-not competitive
-content with losing as long as they get paid
-passion is fame/too comfortable with the lifestyle
-unagressive.

so personally i would pass unless hes willing to play for the minimum.

Nazr Muhammad was one of those players who wasn't working out before the Spurs got him... but he helped the Spurs win a title, didn't he?

[Ballings7]

What are his smarts issues, anyway? I've always heard about them, but haven't seen him enough to see them, really. Is part of it gambling too much defensively?

I think on this team maybe he could have those cleaned up.

[lukeridenour]

-= original quote snipped =-


Nazr Muhammad was one of those players who wasn't working out before the Spurs got him... but he helped the Spurs win a title, didn't he?

i would say that nazrs production while on the spurs was the same as they were on the knicks.

[skillz23]

I watched Stromile Swift on the Grizzlies this year. He was solid when he got minutes but constantly got his sidekick bigs into foul trouble by letting his man blow by him so he could try to block it. Offensively, he was very solid and got to the line well. He played especially well against the Rockets.

[rag-time4]

I watched Stromile Swift on the Grizzlies this year. He was solid when he got minutes but constantly got his sidekick bigs into foul trouble by letting his man blow by him so he could try to block it. Offensively, he was very solid and got to the line well. He played especially well against the Rockets.

I think what you are saying about Stromile getting other bigs in foul trouble is absurd.

Stromile himself got into foul trouble quite often, as did Darko. The problem with the Grizzlies is that their perimeter defense was awful. The perimeter D of the Grizzlies giving up penetration and not fouling enough is what was getting Swift and Milicic in foul trouble.

Gasol never had problems with foul trouble, because when the perimeter D gave up penetration Gasol would just play statue D to stay out of foul trouble... he didn't show the effort on D that Swift and Milicic showed.

What was causing Milicic to get in foul trouble certainly wasn't Stromile Swift... the two rarely played together at all anyway! The problem was Mike Miller, Juan Carlos Navarro, Damon Stoudamire, Mike Conley Jr, and Casey Jacobsen not being worth a damn defensively and putting all the pressure for team defense on the bigs.

What are his smarts issues, anyway? I've always heard about them, but haven't seen him enough to see them, really. Is part of it gambling too much defensively?

I think on this team maybe he could have those cleaned up.

Ballings... good question. In my opinion, there are no issues with Swift's smarts.

The biggest problem he's had is that he wants to be a versatile player and a creator but his coaches have tried to limit him... and he has not been able to build a really strong relationship with any of his coaches.

The best relationship he's had has been with Hubie Brown, but even Hubie didn't treat him well, as you Spurs fans might remember Swift was not allowed to play in the 4th quarter of games 2, 3, and 4 of the Spurs Griz series from a few years back...

If Poppovich were willing to put Stromile in position to be not just a good role player but a great player, I think things would work out.

[ss1986v2]

aside from totally disagreeing with the OPs point of view (no point going into it), its not feasible. the spurs dont have the contracts or the assets to make this move. the only contracts we have to play with are bonner, oberto, bowen, and udoka. nj has no interest in any of these player (they are rebuilding, not looking for complimentary players), especially considering most of their contract status (longer than swifts deal). nor would the spurs want to move bowen, and i doubt they want to move oberto or udoka.

so that leaves sign and trade options. spurs have the bird rights of horry, finley, and thomas. none of those players would want to go to nj, so that shelfs the deal right off the bat. but even if they did, there would be no reason for nj to take them (why trade one expiring for another?). spurs would have to include more assets (ian, rights to splitter, draft pick(s)). which in not something you do for a player like swift. but the s&t never gets off the ground to start with, so it doesnt matter.

so this is all a moot point. this plan was DOA...

[rag-time4]

aside from totally disagreeing with the OPs point of view (no point going into it), its not feasible. the spurs dont have the contracts or the assets to make this move. the only contracts we have to play with are bonner, oberto, bowen, and udoka. nj has no interest in any of these player (they are rebuilding, not looking for complimentary players), especially considering most of their contract status (longer than swifts deal). nor would the spurs want to move bowen, and i doubt they want to move oberto or udoka.

so that leaves sign and trade options. spurs have the bird rights of horry, finley, and thomas. none of those players would want to go to nj, so that shelfs the deal right off the bat. but even if they did, there would be no reason for nj to take them (why trade one expiring for another?). spurs would have to include more assets (ian, rights to splitter, draft pick(s)). which in not something you do for a player like swift. but the s&t never gets off the ground to start with, so it doesnt matter.

so this is all a moot point. this plan was DOA...

Depending on how serious the Nets are about actually playing Swift, the Spurs might be able to get him for a second round pick. The Spurs need players who can really contribute for the next couple seasons as Duncan's career winds down. Swift is just entering his physical prime and would probably play well with Duncan, so why not try to trade a second round pick?

It's pretty safe to say the Spurs will not be getting a player of Swift's caliber with that pick... so if the Nets aren't really serious about playing him the Spurs should try to make a deal.

Why wouldn't Finley or Thomas want to go to NJ? The Nets do have a couple good players in Jefferson, Carter, and Harris...

[ss1986v2]

Why wouldn't Finley or Thomas want to go to NJ? The Nets do have a couple good players in Jefferson, Carter, and Harris...

finley and thomas are going to want to play for contenders, not first round fodder. in the east, thats boston and detroit, with cleveland, orlando, washington, and toronto bringing up the rear. nj is not one of the contending teams.

even if the cost is only a 2nd round pick, we dont have the salary to make that happen without giving nj something they dont want. DOA...

[SD2042]

Rag, one issue with Stro is that he wouldn't be able too well into the Spurs half court style. The Spurs style doesn't rely on a lot of athleticism. Which means fewer transition points and lobs to the basket plays. Now teams like Denver, New Orleans, Washington, GSW, and Detroit could be considerations for Stro to fit the team profile.

[lukeridenour]

whats his contract like? i mean if all it took was 2nd round pick, barring a bad contract, that sounds good to me.

rag-time, you seem to feel that there are no smart question marks, since i dont watch stro i'll trust you on that one. but i do have to wonder why it was so hard for him to get playing time on mem, houston, and now the nets. do you feel that he is simply misused?

[SD2042]

Stro picked up his player option for 6.2 million for the following season.


Stro in Memphis was enigmatic. Some games he would show that potential to be a good player in the league. Sometimes that would disappear. Stro despite his skills can linger into laziness for whatever reasons. My guess is lack of better motivation. The guy needs a swift kick in the a** to stay motivated. With Houston, Stro didn't fit well into JVG's half court style. With his athleticism, he was better suited in a run and gun situation where his skils would be put into better use. In New Jersey where Stro was traded to, he was traded to a logjam situation at the PF spot with several other players who already can play the position. Now that Stro has picked up his option. It wouldn't be a shock if he's traded between draft night and before preseason 2008.

[PR07]

To be honest, and I've thought this for years, I think San Antonio would be a great fit for Jeff Foster. A native Texan, Jeff is an excellent defender and a hits the glass as hard and efficiently as anyone. Problem is, I don't know what the Spurs could offer to make it worth the Pacers while.

[ss1986v2]

To be honest, and I've thought this for years, I think San Antonio would be a great fit for Jeff Foster. A native Texan, Jeff is an excellent defender and a hits the glass as hard and efficiently as anyone. Problem is, I don't know what the Spurs could offer to make it worth the Pacers while.

thats the same problem i had this last season trying and finding some kind of foster-to-the-spurs deal. the spurs were dangling expirings plus a 1st round pick around the deadline, and fosters price is probably just outside of that. and adding splitter or ian probably tip the value too far for the spurs to still pull the trigger.

that package ended up netting kurt thomas, who i do like, wanted to get as a plan b, and who is someone id like to retain. but id much rather have had foster.

[Ballings7]

On Foster - me too!

I just love Foster's game - in what he does, he'd be an ideal fit for us.

Tough to get, though.

[rag-time4]

Rag, one issue with Stro is that he wouldn't be able too well into the Spurs half court style. The Spurs style doesn't rely on a lot of athleticism. Which means fewer transition points and lobs to the basket plays. Now teams like Denver, New Orleans, Washington, GSW, and Detroit could be considerations for Stro to fit the team profile.

SD, I don't think your argument has a whole lot of weight considering that the Spurs other bigs have been guys like Rasho Nesterovic, Fabricio Oberto, Nazr Muhammad, Francisco Elson, Robert Horry, Matt Bonner and even the aged David Robinson... none of whom are or were better back to the basket players than Stromile is.

What Stromile lacks in jump shooting he more than makes up for with his slashing ability and ability to pressure opposing defenses and get to the foul line... which seems to me to be a bit of a weakness for the Spurs. The Spurs could really use Swift's aggressiveness.

Defensively, he would be a great complement to Duncan and can help protect the paint if opposing teams use Duncan's man to set picks in the high pick and roll.

SD, remember from his Memphis days, it was almost always Swift's man who would be setting the picks, and the Grizzlies defense behind Swift (Warrick, Miller, Gasol) would get exposed for not playing D in the paint behind Swift when his man was setting picks. Same situation Duncan and the Spurs were in vs LA.

whats his contract like? i mean if all it took was 2nd round pick, barring a bad contract, that sounds good to me.

rag-time, you seem to feel that there are no smart question marks, since i dont watch stro i'll trust you on that one. but i do have to wonder why it was so hard for him to get playing time on mem, houston, and now the nets. do you feel that he is simply misused?

Swift is in the last year of the deal he signed with Houston. I think it's somewhere around 6 mil. After this season he's unrestricted (contract year )

I do think Stromile was misused everywhere he's been, to say the least.

In Memphis, he was often used at Center while the bigger Pau Gasol was used at PF. Often times opposing teams would have their matchups correct, but then the Griz would switch it and put Swift on the center.

Being constantly used at Center has limited Swift's effectiveness as a back to the basket player, but he does very well in situations where he's not at a size disadvantage (which is rare)

He's always been an effective slasher and finisher but he doesn't get a lot of touches... because he's just not on the floor enough.

I disagree with SD, and having watched Stromile in Houston I thought he totaly outplayed the starting PF, Juwan Howard. Stromile won in many key statistical categories despite far fewer minutes.

Swift's ability to attack opposing defenses was a perfect complement to Yao. JVG's strategy of surrounding Yao with shooters didn't work, because it's a boring offensive strategy and because shooters usually aren't good athletic defenders, and in particular the players on the 05/06 Rockets squad that got so many minutes, such as Juwan Howard and David Wesley, who were horrible defensively.

Swift and Yao played very well together. In fact, I would argue that Swift made Yao better, in that Swift's aggressive style may have rubbed off on Yao. Yao's numbers took a significant jump the year Swift joined the team.

Beyond being misused, though, I think the biggest problem Swift has had is that his coaches have just not been able to relate to him.

Also, because of the strong hip-hop aesthetic that's seen in Swift's playing style, I think there has been a lack of respect for him. All of the players chosen to play over Swift have not had the same hip-hop persona, but Swift has shown when given the chance that he's better than the players who his coaches have favored.

[ss1986v2]

and still a person the spurs probably cant acquire given their current contract situations. maybe as a free agent next offseason, but thats still a year off.

and even then, i still dont think hes worth investing much more than 2-4 mil per given his age (would be going on 30 with nearly a decade of tread already off the tires) and relative lack of production thus far: career 8 and 5 guy on 20 mpg, ast/to well below 1 (0.4), less than stellar 4.5 pf per36.

kids a bust. well, thats not fair. hes not a kid anymore, and hes at least somewhat serviceable. just like kwame. or darko. or perkins. just older, and not showing any marked improvement over the last 3 years...