cfan79 wrote:I have no idea, just for **** and giggles I'll say Shaq.
No, it's Pat Ewing. I am not saying Swift will be Ewing. I am just showing that a future (at that time) three-time All-Defensive team player performed at a similar level on the defensive end of the floor as Swift has. I only put the TS% in there to give a hint to the player was.
One of the easiest ways to stockpile talent, imo, is to exploit the good team/bad team inequity. Players in the rotation of good teams are often overrated. If you take a role player off a team with no star or an undeveloped star player(s), they can often be used just as easily on good teams.
A prime example of this is Roger Mason, Jr in San Antonio. He couldn't get off the bench in CHI, TOR and WAS in his first few years in the league. Last year he finally saw consistent playing time with WAS but was still just a ~20 MPG player because better options were apparently in front of him.
Now he has played the 2nd most minutes of any Spur (after Duncan) and has prospered. Granted, he is playing with true star players but he is playing on a very good team, in a very tough division. Of course it is all about the right fit. Mason Jr was a good fit. Kudos to the Spurs. FWIW, I think Swift is the right fit for our bench. It has nothing do with prior rumors of Ainge interest and everything to do with what I believe to be a correct fit.