Swift a Rocket!

[chuanito]

Mutumbo has indicated that he would like to finish his career in Houston.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3250166

I don't think money is a concern, seeing how he made $18 million last season ($14 from Knicks or Jersey, don't remember, $4 from Rockets)

Finally, I don't see Swift starting right away. I think he'll come off the bench to play 25-30 a night. Stro can rotate to help block shots, but he is NOT a good defender. I think true basketball fans know that blocks and steals don't necessarily mean good D.

[Drex]

Is Juwan a better defender than he is?? Or that white guy who guarded Dirk in the playoffs?? (Ryan Bowen or somthing )

[-BHZMAFIA-]

And if I recall, Juwan Howard did average 17ppg and 7rpg when he averaged 35mpg with the Magic the year before he came to the Rockets. The Rockets only gave him 26mpg, and I can expect Swift to get 35mpg as well in the starting lineup and if Swift can't produce the same or better numbers than what Howard did, then why they never really gave Howard a try? He was injured for most of last season, but he is still capable of having good games. After looking at his stats, it kinda made me think about the Rockets acquiring Swift. Yes, Swift is ALOT younger and is full of potential, but if Swift can't produce 17 and 7 as a 3rd option, I'm going to have some concerns on why they just couldn't let Howard play 35mpg.

[chuanito]

Juwan is definitely a more complete player, but I think Stro has more of what they need.

Jeff Van Gundy asks Yao to defend pick and rolls out to 18-20 ft, farther than any other center. That leaves the paint completely open, so they need an athletic help-side defender/shot-blocker. Swift isn't a good one-on-one defender, but I think he's a good weak side shot blocker, like Kirilenko.

Yao, contrary to what people would think, is not a great shot-blocker. He is a below-average jumper (could barely dunk when he was 6'8"), and has short arms.
I think that's why Kelvin Cato and Eddie Griffin (both good shotblockers) worked well alongside Yao. Juwan Howard has never been a great shotblocker, and plus, he is 32-33 years old. The idea of him playing SF (suggested earlier) is ridiculous.

Also, maybe they're uncertain of his heart condition?

[fgrep15]

Juwan is not really a more complete player. Juwan is a more complete OFFENSIVE player, and more experienced player, but Stromile can do a lot more for them. About Juwan putting up 17 points and 7 rebounds in 35 minutes, he wouldn't have done that as a Rocket.

If you look at his PER 35 minute numbers for last season, they are: 12.6 PPG | 7.5 RPG | 2.0 APG | 11.7 FGA | 2.5 FTA. He was not going to get the touches to score 17 PPG, he was down 3 FGA, and about 2.3 FTA as he wasn't really an option on the team. You have to remember that his last season in Orlando, he was the second option, and McGrady also missed 15 games that year where he was the first option and averaging about 19 PPG.

Orlando was also a lot more offensive team than the Rockets this season who played a slower pace. The Rockets averaged 78.2 FGA, and the Magic in 03-04 82.5 FGA. So with him going from a 2nd/1st option to a 3rd/4th option, their's no way for him to maintain those scoring numbers in the same amount of minutes, especially when the team as a whole is shooting even less.

Juwan gives more offensive ability, he's smoother offensively, has a superior jumpshot, and is a better passer. Swift though not as smooth, can put up similar offensive numbers, is a better rebounder, shot blocker, tougher, and a better defender.

The Rockets need those areas much more than a smoother and better shooting player at PF. Swift is an average man to man defender, and quite good at help side defense because of his athleticism and quickness, so he's a good guy to have roaming the paint.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

That's a real good point, except I wouldn't consider Swift a tougher player. He will be a great help side defender because there were plenty of times in Memphis where he would just jump straight up vertically and knock the ball out of bounds. He even swatted KG's fadeaway jumper before. It was a good point about Howard being the 2nd option in Orlando because I never thought about that and the Rockets do play a slower pace style. Drew Gooden was also a member of that Orlando team, and even though he didn't start that much in the 03-04 season, he was still considered an option for the team.

Swift will most likely be more of a defender on the Rockets than a scoring option, but that's another thing if Yao will actually be considered a bigger threat than what he was last season. I just can't wait to see Swift play because I really haven't got the chance to see him start and play at his natural position because in Memphis, he really never got the chance. I hope he ends up doing good. He was my favorite player in Memphis when they first made their move and one of the nicest Grizzlies. My dad met him at the Waffle House in Louisiana one summer and my dad was telling him how much I liked him and he volunteered to call my house so he could talk to me so I wish him the best.

[Ming-Mac]

Stro's the PF who is the most suitable for the Rockets on FA market this year,his toughness will be a great supplement to Yao's "soft".He may bring the team defense and rebounds,that's enough. The frontcourt of the team will be the most powerful in the league I think.
Really great move for Houston

[Kemp]

Juwan for offence and Swift for defence.

[Drex]

Now if you could only merge the two into ONE player, it will be all good...but you can't, and the JVG will have to make a decision about who's starting (or logging more minutes)

[BeastOfTheEast1]

its good for the rockets but i think they should of got Shareef Abdur-Rahim and a better point guard like damon stoudamire and ppl to help out there bench

[[L3]1101]

Shareef is not a good defender like Swift. Swift is more athletic and is asking for less. Sure Shareef is a good score, but rockets needed more than just a score. and when giving the time, swift can become just as good of a score as shareef, IMO. As for Stoudamire, there's a good chance he will become a rocket, so i'm looking forward to that line up (though not for sura, wesly).

[Kemp]

The trade is still pending involving Houston and Portland, so stay tuned.

[fgrep15]

its good for the rockets but i think they should of got Shareef Abdur-Rahim and a better point guard like damon stoudamire and ppl to help out there bench

Shareef wouldn't be as good a fit. The Rockets need the shot blocking, toughness, and agressiveness Swift brings as opposed to Shareef's superior offensive ability.

Also while Damon is nice, I'm not sure about him. It would make their backcourt very small with him and Wesley starting, or whenever he's on with Wesley, Head or James.

[Fenix]

Also while Damon is nice, I'm not sure about him. It would make their backcourt very small with him and Wesley starting, or whenever he's on with Wesley, Head or James.

I don't believe Wesley would start. Even when he started, he was paired with 6'5'' Bob Sura who guarded SGs, while Wesley switched to the point guard. Realistic lineup would be:

C:Yao
PF:Swift
SF:T-Mac
SG:Sura
PG:Stoudamire

Their backcourt is still undersized, but I don't believe that will present a big problem. I expect them to get at least one waived player such as Houston or Finley. Latter would be a great fit for the Rockets, while he would give them the possibility of Sura coming off the bench and having a last year's backcourt (Wesley&Sura) as their second stringers. So depth would be there and if Yao improves - if! - this team could be very, very good.

[Nel]

I think if the rockets were to do a S&T for damon they should get derek anderson also. If they do that then they dont have an undersized sg. The lineup would be:
C-Yao
PF-Swift
SF-TMAC
SG-DA
PG-Stoudamire
That lineup is pretty decent. I dont really feel sura playing the 2. He's too old and doesnt shoot the ball well. Derek Anderson was very good when he was with the spurs and a decent 3pt shooter. The only problem i see is DA would see Jhoward who injured him in the series against dallas..

[[L3]1101]

C:Yao
PF:Swift
SF:T-Mac
SG:Sura
PG:Stoudamire

that's a pretty good line up. But the Rockets must get Stoudmire through sign and trade, and I don't think the Blazers are interested in any other guys other than Sura and Wesly. So the Rockets will have to give up at least one of those guys. And plus, the Rockets have already used their MLE.

[.PixL]

now all we have to do is get rid of yao for a proper center. i swear to god if he doesn't toughen up this summer im gonna break his legs. right now he is a dissapointment and is sad to watch a 7'6 center averaging single figure rebounds

[Amphatoast]

well no other 7'6"+ center has been as great as yao

only shawn bradly and bol fit that category

[kevC]

now all we have to do is get rid of yao for a proper center. i swear to god if he doesn't toughen up this summer im gonna break his legs. right now he is a dissapointment and is sad to watch a 7'6 center averaging single figure rebounds

Yeah let's get rid of the second best center in the league who finally brought us back to the playoffs after Stevie "Franchise" ruined everything for a "proper" center.

[[L3]1101]

right now he is a dissapointment

what the hell are you talking about?

[J@3]

well no other 7'6"+ center has been as great as yao

only shawn bradly and bol fit that category

Bol did have that play where he blocked like 4 or 5 shots in a single play. Could've made his entire career from that