Knicks after Stro...

"Knicks go extra mile
in courting Stromile



BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


Stromile Swift

Isiah Thomas' search for a big man is progressing faster than his search for a head coach. The Knicks already have set up a meeting with Memphis free-agent forward Stromile Swift today in New York.
Swift, 25, is one of several free agents to whom Thomas reached out just after the free agency recruiting period began at midnight Thursday. The Knicks, according to sources, also contacted the agents for Seattle's Jerome James, Washington's Kwame Brown, Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Portland's Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

Thomas has made it clear that he wants an athletic big man, preferably a center. Swift is a power forward who averaged 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 60 games last season. The Nets, Hornets, Rockets, Lakers and Heat are among the teams that are also pursing the 6-9 Swift, who was the second pick of the 2000 NBA draft.

"Our interest in the Knicks speaks for itself," said Swift's New Jersey-based agent, Andy Miller. "Free agency started on July 1 and we're meeting with them on July 2."

Unless the Knicks work out a sign-and-trade, they can only offer prospective free agents their $4.9 million mid-level exception. Swift is expected to command close to $10 million annually but Miller did not rule out signing a short-term deal with the Knicks.

Memphis may be ready to let Swift walk after the club drafted power forwards Hakim Warrick and Lawrence Roberts on Tuesday. Over the next 10 days, Thomas is expected to meet with James and Brown.

On the coaching front, Seattle's Nate McMillan met with the Portland Trail Blazers yesterday and could be offered a contract within the next 48 hours. Thomas also has expressed interest in McMillan even though Larry Brown is the Knicks' top choice, followed by Bill Laimbeer and incumbent Herb Williams."

It would be a pretty good addition to the Knicks, but what would MEM get out of the deal?

Do they actually have money to sign someone?

they can only offer prospective free agents their $4.9 million mid-level exception

Swift wants $10 million a year

Swift wants $10 million a year

It might be a short term deal, or they might pull a sign-and-trade. I don't think Isaea(sic) would be averse to giving Stro a 10mil per deal.

Exactly, it's what I've been saying for awhile. Swift wants the big bucks, thats the main reason why him and Memphis didn't come to an agreement last off-season when he had a player option because he wanted the big bucks, but Memphis wanted to give it to Gasol since he is considered the franchise player. If he wants just a short term deal, Memphis gave him that last season, which is what I wouldn't get and he would rather play for a team thats even worse than the team that he was already on just for a little bit of more money I can understand him doing that for maybe Houston since he does get the chance to work with Tmac and Yao.

It depends on what type of guy stro is. If he wants to be the biggest player in the team then NY is the best place. But if he wants to be just another player then Houston.

Bah, I always hear about players going to New York, but they never actually do.

I thought New Jersey couldn't get him because he wants too much money, New York also only has the MLE. Every year their's talk about some player wanting to go to New York because THEY RULE!!! and everyone wants to go there, but it never happens.

LMAO! I had said that all through the season when they were talking about the Knicks getting somebody, but they never sign nobody thats meaningful to the team really.

Bah, I always hear about players going to New York, but they never actually do.

No kidding. I don't see Stro coming to NY.

Although, whoever he goes to will most likely grossly overpay him.

I like Stro, but I think he's overrated.

Bah, I always hear about players going to New York, but they never actually do.

No kidding. I don't see Stro coming to NY.

Although, whoever he goes to will most likely grossly overpay him.

I like Stro, but I think he's overrated.

I kinda have to agree with that for now, but I can't fully agree only because he has never been able to just have a starting role on a team yet completely. He has always came off the bench and off the bench for his career, he has been averaging 9ppg, 5rpg and 1.4bpg which is pretty good for a player that can only get around 20mpg. This is the main reason why I want Memphis to keep him and hopefully make room for him in the starting lineup because with 30mpg, I believe he can become a good player, not great but good. He could probably give you 15-16ppg, 7-8rpg and 2bpg with good minutes and he shown signs of that when he started for Memphis when Pau was out with that injury. He ended up getting hurt and thats when his stock started to go down again.

Well he's a good offensive player, about average to maybe above average man to man defender, and a good shot blocker, but his rebounding is pretty weak for a guy as athletic as he is.

Swift wants $10 million a year

It might be a short term deal, or they might pull a sign-and-trade. I don't think Isaea(sic) would be averse to giving Stro a 10mil per deal.

I hope not. Isiah should be figuring out ways to fix NY's cap woes, not add to them.

But Stro would some much needed height and power in the lineup. And he could play C, so imagine with Stro the knicks lineup would be...

C. Stromile Swift
Pf. Mike Sweetney
Sf. Quintein Richardson
Sg. Jamal Crawford
Pg. Stephon Marbury
Bench_________________
Trevor Ariza (Sg)
Channing Frye (C)
Penny Hardaway (Sf/Sg)
Nate Robinson (Pg)
Gerald Williams (Pf/ Sf)
Malik Rose(Pf)

A defenite second round playoff team if the chemistry is good.

I dont really like that line up , i like this one better.

C-Frye
PF-Swift
SF-Q Rick
SG-Crawford
PG-Marbury
Bench_____________
6th man - tim thomas
sweetney
williams
robinson
ariza
hardaway
rose

The main reason Stro wants to leave Memphis is because he can't play his natural position at PF so I know he wouldn't try and play center somewhere else.

Yea, I kinda like ur lineup too Doobie. Frye will be able to start in urs.

isn't this lineup a little small?

C. Stromile Swift
Pf. Mike Sweetney
Sf. Quintein Richardson
Sg. Jamal Crawford
Pg. Stephon Marbury

Stro: 6"9'
Sweetney: 6"8
Q-Rich: 6"6'
Crawford:6"5'
Marbury: 6"2'

Teams with taller players at the C and PF and even the SF position would be able to take the knicks into the post and just shoot over the top, even with Stro's athleticism.

Stro wont go to NY, theyll be lucky to get Jerome James i think, there not a hot team at the moment......

I REALLY like the idea of Stro coming to NO, hes the right age, will get a starting role, will get shots, and wont be expected to play Center with guys like Magliore/C Anderson and PJ brown all bigger than him.... If the hornets could land Swift and someone like Bobby Simmons it'd be a decent team....

J Magliore
S Swift
B Simmons
JR Smith
C Paul
-------------
PJ Brown
C Anderson
S Claxton
B Nachbar
G Lynch
D Dickau
D West

And has some depth.....

GO NEW ORLEANS!

Stro will prolly go to the Hornets..its his homestate team and they'd probably offer him big bucks unlike most other teams cept maybe the Hawks.

The Knicks want every damn player because anyone looks better than what they have now.

Seriously theirs like 5+ rumours every month about the Knicks...so far 99% of them are BS.

Swift needs to get trade to another team becoz he does not want to backup Gasol for his entire career. Swift probably would suit better in Hornets. I think Swift will start at PF beside Magliore. Swift would not suit in Knicks becoz they already got Sweetney, Rose and Williams at PF position. Sweetney always want to be a starter so lets give him the chance to start.

Stro will prolly go to the Hornets..its his homestate team and they'd probably offer him big bucks unlike most other teams cept maybe the Hawks.

The Knicks want every damn player because anyone looks better than what they have now.

Seriously theirs like 5+ rumours every month about the Knicks...so far 99% of them are BS.

more like a new rumour everyday.. typical ny media