Swift's future in Seattle

[campybatman]

I know there were rumors that Ainge could select him in that draft (2004) and he'd desired his inclusion in the Ray Allen trade. Knowing what fans know now. I can't imagine Ainge would still have intrigue for Swift. Still, he might be available... With Swift, Sene, Petro, Elson and Collison all playing center more or less. Seattle might not extend Swift and Elson or trade one of the others.

A restricted free agent at the end of the season, Swift still has a future in Seattle as far as Carlesimo is concerned.

[Double-Overtime]

swift is garbage and he looks like carrot top.. danny always plays the "i like this player", angle. He's a politician.

[celticfan42487]

WoW so happy that Ainge wasn't allowed to draft this kid. We really were/are blessed to have AL on the board and Swift off.

[GregB]

I dont get why Seattle would keep him. They should really be focusing on developing Petro. He has been productive in limited minutes.

[Banks2Pierce]

He's been injured his entire career. He has looked pretty legitimate when he's been healthy. He's still pretty young too.

[sox839]

Was Swift actually the preferred pick or is that just something in the press. We'll probably never know. I could actually see swift being signed in the offseason and here is why. We will have some openings pollard, house, Tony allen, pj brown and assuming we sign cassell these five are free agents at the end of the season. Also posey has a player option I believe. Minium though you have pollard, pj brown and proably cassell if he is signed not coming back. Tony allen could leave also. I'm thinking house comes back. Depending on who wedraft swift could sign here. I think it is a possibilitya low risk high reward. If we drafta big which is what we should do we may not sign swift.

[campybatman]

Personally, I believe Ainge's interest in Swift were genuine like it was for Banks. However, can you imagine attempting to trade for Garnett where Swift instead of Jefferson was the center piece of that trade? You don't have to... That monumental trade wouldn't have existed. Period. As for the Ray Allen trade. I'd read that Ainge asked for Swift and Seattle wanted Rondo then. Ainge left well enough alone and offered West and they'd accepted.

As said, Swift is still young at twenty-two. If he can someday become a poor man's Marcus Camby. I'll like to believe that Ainge could take that gamble on him. I don't know who Swift compares to in the league now. I can't say I've seen a lot of him in games. But, to me, he looks like a white Camby with his length, athleticism and tattoos. Skills wise, he reads like he does the same things that Camby does: Rebound, block, pass and run the floor. Unfortunately, like Camby, you tend to think of Swift as a player who misses games to injures. Nevertheless, the one thing about him I'm reading is that unlike Camby, or a similar center physically, he's bulking up and getting stronger.

Just a thought, I doubt he would be intimated by Garnett.





http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketbal ... onx17.html

[BobbySura]

totally pulling for swift to make a run at a return and i'd love him on the celtics. i was really excited to see him back on the sonics game on national tv a few weeks back, but he got injured in that game.

i think if he drops some weight and relaxes until september or so he'll be ok.

[cfan79]

I wouldn't have any interest in Swift. He is just too injured prone. We can get a cheap young big in this yrs draft.

[Tenbomber]

I think of Swift being more like Scott Pollard than Marcus Camby....because he is injured most of the time....guess we don't need any duplication at that position?

The kid must think this is 1967 or something by his appearance?
He's got to be a stoner?
Such a waste of an NBA body?... too bad!

Yeah, I know...Don't judge a book by it's cover...but, if he's straight, then why is there a need to draw attention to himself?

[canman1971]

How long has it been? I'd say it is safe to say this guy is a stiff/bust, whatever, but not an NBA player. Just because you are tall, have tattoos and "played" basketball doesn't mean you are an NBA player.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

If the Celts can snag him for 2 mil/year, they might as well. We know Ainge likes him. It was rumored that he offered the Sonics Gerald Green for him a few years ago. Being pursued by Ainge on 2 separate occassions leads me to believe that this kid might contribute when healthy.

I believe before the 2004 NBA draft, Paul Pierce also had some nice things to say about the kid. Said he was a pretty good shotblocker, as Pierce got to play against him a few times during pickup games in the offseason. High praise for a high schooler at the time.

[cfan79]

After 2 knee surgeries he might already be broken down in his early twenties. I'd rather just pick up a young center this summer.

[Bad-Thoma]

If he's cheap enough, then it would be dumb not to take a flyer on him, sure he's had 2 knee surgeries but so have Poe and Tony and they are both pretty productive. You can't teach size, and Swift has size, as for the tattoo's, carrot top, etc, who gives a rat's ass. Hair don't block shots, and tattoo's don't rebound. He's shown some promise at times, obviously his body wasn't NBA ready coming out of high school. A knee injury at 20 isn't a knee injury at 30, youth bounces back a lot better.

[campybatman]

I think the point that some of you are missing is that 1) Ainge still likes Swift as a player and 2) Swift's value is likely low right now. There's currently a log jam for big men in Seattle and one could assume that they all won't be retain. Too many of these players can play the center or both the center and power forward position. Unless Seattle is sold on the idea that injuries have prevented Swift from showing his true worth as a player. Then I suspect that Ainge will follow closely the direction Seattle elects to take with him this summer. Because Swift is too young and still has some up side to simply ignore him if you're Ainge or another GM. I mean this is only his fourth season (technically his third since he missed one season) as a NBA player which means he could've been selected as a senior in this year's draft if he'd gone to school and remained all four years.

[DynastyInTheMaking]

um who cares?

[YUKES]

you'd never get him for 2 mil a year. he's only a restricted free agent. he'd get matched just for giggles if that was the size of his offer sheet.

only way he'll play is if we overpay, and none of us wants that.

[campybatman]

We'll have to wait and see what Seattle's thinking will be on Swift. They've just as much uncertainty at center as they do at point guard. Ainge might want to keep an eye on others on that roster besides Swift. One or two other players could shake loose in a trade. Perhaps, Petro, Wilcox or Collison.