Robert Swift

[Andrew McCeltic]

What's the deal with this guy? Will the Sonics extend him his qualifying offer? Is he still in the team's plans? Or has he been completely derailed by injuries?

[wiff]

Your guess is as good as anyone's on the qualifying offer. But honestly at this point if he suits up and actually hits the floor I'd be surprised. The kid has a great work ethic. Has done everything he could to transform his body from being a skinny bean pole into a 7' beast but unless he get's his knee right it is all for not.

[Patches Pal]

He torn his meniscus which is pretty common after an ACL injury and had to have surgery again. This is complicated by his contract. I doubt he gets the QO but he could be resigned to a much lower number. He has never shown he can play in the NBA and has never been healthy. With all of the big men in this years draft I have to believe they will try to replace him on the roster. It all depends on the medical reports and those are not public.

[sonictecture]

The qualifying offer for Swift is roughly $3.6M. After being out for two straight seasons with knee injuries, there is little chance that another team would pay similar money to find out if Swift's injury history is behind him.

The Sonics have more cap flexibility if they feel the need to offer the QO and they will certainly view both medically, physically and the mental state of Swift before making a decision.

From Swift's side, you have a committed young man who may feel that he owes the Sonic organization something, or he might feel that he needs a fresh start elsewhere.

With Sene's injury I would resign Swift, if he checks out. If healthy I think he can be a pretty good player.

[djthesonicsfan]

I agree we just don't know how his recovery is going at this point. He certainly lost a couple of steps when he tried to come back. And I don't think he'll see a qualifying offer. But I hope he gets a make good offer. I'd like to see him fully recovered before writing him off because, unlike Patches, I saw a kid pre-injury that was definately a legit NBA big.

[GameTime_3]

So honestly do you see him returning to you guys or will a team offer the minimum and get him? When he did play, Can you give me a sense of what he looked liked? Miami is looking for a big man project, So i think Swift will be looked at.

[OzSonic]

It all depends on the draft. If we draft another big do they keep them all? Sene, Petro, Swift and another, there is not enough room. I'd like to think he can still go, before the injury he was on the brink of being a legit starting centre. Last season he was not right, he was too heavy and IMO was not ready to come back.

Wait and see I guess.

[sonictecture]

So honestly do you see him returning to you guys or will a team offer the minimum and get him? When he did play, Can you give me a sense of what he looked liked? Miami is looking for a big man project, So i think Swift will be looked at.

This is the tricky part for Presti. The organization has made a significant investment in Swift, do you risk losing him to a team like Miami or San Antonio at this point or do you take the $3.6M gamble?

My leaning is to take the gamble, but then it's not my money.

[Patches Pal]

He played half a season in 2005. When he came back this last season he was Shaq like going up and down the floor. He was strong but slowed by his knee brace and had little quickness. Then he hurt his meniscus. He probably has one year of recovery ahead. Since he has been in the NBA three years he cannot be assigned to the D-league. He has to be kept on the roster or Inactive List. The Sonics have 11 contracted players before resigning Swift, Gelabale or any of their six draft picks. Sene is also injured which makes it likely the Sonics will take a Center that can play. Due to salary constraints and two first round picks next year, I think they will only carry 14 players this year and three on the Inactive List. If Sene and Swift are on the Inactive List, you could have five or six new players competing for three or four spots. A couple of second rounders will be stored overseas. Trades may consolidate the draft picks.
Given the teams financial situation I see no way they spend $3.6M on Swift. A two year make good contract would be the best he could hope for. I don't see any other teams taking a chance on him either because even if healthy he still needs alot of development.

[shmin1234]

The kid has a great work ethic. Has done everything he could to transform his body from being a skinny bean pole into a 7' beast but unless he get's his knee right it is all for not.

while i agree with you that while on the court is work ethic is good, a good friend of mine tells me that he always sees swift very hammered at numerous bellevue c.c. parties and that it is a very common occurence. however, swift still has a good upside if he can avoid injuries

[djthesonicsfan]

So honestly do you see him returning to you guys or will a team offer the minimum and get him? When he did play, Can you give me a sense of what he looked liked? Miami is looking for a big man project, So i think Swift will be looked at.

A few years ago he was a young kid who played above the rim and tried to beat his man down the court every possesion. Coach Hill did everything humanly possible to kill his confidence, but Swift played hard. And he was on his way when he injured his knee. Right now we don't know if he can recover. If he does he'd be worth having on a team.

[pr0wler]

Funny, I was just going to post a thread about Robert Swift and I stumbled upon this one already up and running.



I'm not a huge promoter of the tattoos but I do like the bulky look with the long hair. It's funny how a bit of a tan and a little added weight makes someone look a lot better. Before with that short hair and skinny frame he looked like a scared high school kid but now he looks like a bad dude.

I really hate it when people say he hasn't proved anything in the league, he's a bust, he's not NBA material etc. because that couldn't be further from the truth. Prior to the ACL injury he was a very quick, agile, long big man who could run the court like a forward. I used to love watching him race down and catch an alley oop and throw it down, to everyones surprise. He definitely needed some refinement but he had the athletic ability, desire, and fundamentals to be very successful. Even his stats as a second year bigman with a high school kids frame was very solid at 6/6/1 in only 21 minutes a night. He was a very good rebounder, solid shot blocker and provided enough offensive punch to keep the defense honest. I really hope he can find a way to come back because he really had the potential to be an exciting center averaging 15/10/2.

I'm being optimistic and wishing that since it's already been 4 months since his second knee injury he will have time to recover by the time summer league starts and we can get a look at him. His knee should be good and rested and hopefully all that pain he was feeling is healed. Knee injuries take a LONG time to heal and you'd be shocked at how a player looks completely different if he's knee is sore and can't support his weight properly. I also think the fact he lost a bit of weight after the huge 40 pound muscle gain will lessen some of the pressure on his legs and he will be able to recovery better.

[wiff]

I disagree with the people who claim Swift hasn't shown anything also.

There was a period when Swift finally got the starting role his second year in the league and he played very well. Then Reggie Evans busted his nose during practice and next thing you know Evans was traded shortly after.

But back to Swift's play there was a span of about eight or ten games where Swift had decent number's. Nothing amazing but during this 8 to 10 game span he was averaging between 3 and 4 blocks a game. Swift has never looked graceful but his athletism would creep up on you. He looked awkward but he could run the floor fairly well and had surprisingly decent hops.

I also remember once he packed it on Brad Miller's dome and then bumped his chest up against Miller. And let's just say toughness has been something this team has been lacking.

Bottom line if he can get his knee right to where he can run up and down the court with no pain, and if he can get his hops back he can be a decent player.

Funny thing is that I just heard Leon Powe on the Colin Cowherd Show and he was talking about his knee issues. He wasn't sure if he was going to keep playing hoop at one point because his knee needed a couple surguries before it was fixed.

Let's cross our fingers the Swift makes a recovery. Because I'd take Swift over Lopez.

Now as far as the drinking goes what 22 year old kid isn't hammered frequently?

Sports leagues are infamous with drunks that can play well. Babe Ruth, Chris Mullen, Charles Barkley, Ty Cobb, and who ever else you want to throw out there. Just be glad the kid isn't doing Meth.

I could care less what he is doing on his own time as long as he shows up to work sober and works his butt off during practice and the games.

Next time your friend see's him at a kegger have him ask Swift for an update because the forum would like to know. But tell your friend to be careful.

Berserk=
(Old Norse: berserkar, literally, “bear’s skin”; a Norse-myth warrior)

The Berserker


I hope to see Robert Swift the Seattle Norse-Myth Warrior displaying acts of vengence on the court again soon.

[BernardC]

I have heard that this kid has one of the better footworks in the NBA, with pretty decent athletic ability. If he can recover well I can see him playing well along Durant and Green.

[pr0wler]

I agree I would take him over Brook Lopez in a heartbeat. A healthy Robert Swift is easily a top 5 pick in any draft. As for the drinking thing, that doesn't concern me at all either. A friend of mine who is training for the NHL drinks on a semi-regular basis. Not every week but at least every couple weeks he gets hammered but when he gets to the gym (twice a day) he trains very hard and last year finished #1 at the combine at his university. As long as a guy gives it 100% and works hard when I don't really care if he gets smashed at parties every week or two. Not a big deal in my books.

[london sonic]

with miami looking for big prospect can swift someway be packaged after qualifying offer to miami to help get beasley

[sonictecture]

Swift would have to agree to waive his Bird Rights in any attempt to trade him under the qualifying offer. I'm not sure Miami would pay $3.6M for Swift without seeing something promising, in which case Seattle should keep him.

[RiseoftheSonics]

I wouldn't give him the qualifying offer, but would play a wait and see game, and no he hasn't proven anything. And no one can stand up for him, because that would be bs.

[djthesonicsfan]

Following up on wiff's & prowler's points, I also can't shake the feeling that a little more time to heal is all that Swift needs. I have no inside knowledge to back that up. And ya, I'll be the first to admit it's an optimistic view. But it's what makes me think those two 1sts should be used to pick guards (eg Mayo/Bayless & Rush/Lee). I think Swift's chances of becoming a legit center, if he's healthy, are at least as good as the centers in this draft class. Plus, I also like the improvement Petro displayed last season. Hopefully he can keep that going.

[pr0wler]

Me too. I really have nothing to base it on either, more like wishful thinking that when the season starts it'll be 8 months since his meniscus injury and he should be recovered. I'm hoping that he hasn't lost too much of his mobility or athleticism either because that's a big part of what made him so promising in the first place.