<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With a plain white T-shirt and the toothy grin often linked to happy homecomings, Stromile Swift arrived in town Tuesday wearing a clean slate and plenty of optimism. "I'm going to give 100 percent," Swift said before visiting teammates and coaches during informal workouts in FedExForum. "I don't have any hard feelings against anybody for what happened here. I'm going to come in here and just work hard." It's almost as though Swift never left the Grizzlies. In many respects, the 6-9 power forward/center said reconciliation is what will make this reunion work. Swift certainly appeared content while granting his first interview since learning that the Houston Rockets traded him, along with the rights to Rudy Gay (selected eighth overall in the June draft), to Memphis for Shane Battier. The weeks have mounted since that dynamic draft day. There also were the two days Swift thought long and hard about rejoining the Grizzlies. Initially, he was disappointed by the news. "I was pretty shocked about it when my agent called," Swift said. "I just kept asking 'Why?' The end of my last year (2004-05) wasn't good. My biggest question was 'Why?' Honestly, at the end of that last year I was ready to go even though when I left I knew I had a lot of friends here. "Then, I sat down and thought about it, and I realized it's a business. It's just weird to be coming back here. But once I talked to Jerry I figured I had to let the past go and move forward. I'm happy to be back." Jerry, as in Griz president Jerry West, is just as thrilled. West badly wanted Gay but has stated that re-acquiring Swift sweetened the deal. The Griz always appreciated Swift's shot-blocking, athleticism and versatility. And who better to compensate for Pau Gasol's potential four-month absence because of foot surgery? Swift is well aware of what is expected and his responsibility. "There's a lot of pressure. I'm hoping I'll handle it pretty good and hold it down until Pau comes back," Swift said. "There's a chance I'll start with Pau being out. But I'm not too concerned about that. All that matters is that I take advantage of the opportunity. I'm going to take it one step at a time." Swift will do so at a reasonable price -- a contract that pays $5.4 million for the 2006-07 season. Swift left Memphis last summer after five seasons partly because he sought a six-year contract averaging $10 million per season. The Griz offered an incentive-laden deal worth $48 million. Swift perceived that the organization had given up on his talent after dealing with fluctuating playing time and an ankle injury near his departure. His attitude now is clear: Let bygones be bygones. "I'm not hanging on to the past," he said. The Houston experience partly shaped Swift's mindset. In his brief stint with the Rockets, Swift completed his worst season since the rookie campaign of 2000. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds after quickly falling out of favor with coach Jeff Van Gundy. When healthy, Swift didn't contribute as much as the Rockets hoped he would when they signed him to a five-year, $30 million deal. Swift's best seasons have come in Memphis where he averaged 10 points and five rebounds off the bench over five years. His best season was 2001-02 when Swift averaged 12 points and six rebounds. "This is a familiar situation, and it's better than going somewhere new," Swift said, sounding a bit grateful that Houston saw Memphis as its dumpster after giving up on him. "I know where I stand in this program. I know where I fit in. I know my role." </div> Source
He has a good atitude, but will the "changed" and "I'm going to give 100%" Swift be any different than the old one? I hope so. He has his chance this season, he really does.
I think he'll produce. I mean, who else do the Grizz have at this point? Somebody's going to have to score some points and grab some rebounds. But, I don't necessarily see that as an indication that he's stopped underachieving.
If Swift can give 100% on both ends of the floor, and play smart, he's really a pretty good player. He's never played more than like 23 MPG, yet he's always putting up about 9-11 PPG, and 5-6 RPG with about 1.5 BPG. If he can play smart and get starters minutes while Gasol is out, he's a guy that can give the team 14-16 PPG, about 7-8 RPG, and 2 BPG.
<div class="quote_poster">og15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If Swift can give 100% on both ends of the floor, and play smart, he's really a pretty good player. He's never played more than like 23 MPG, yet he's always putting up about 9-11 PPG, and 5-6 RPG with about 1.5 BPG. If he can play smart and get starters minutes while Gasol is out, he's a guy that can give the team 14-16 PPG, about 7-8 RPG, and 2 BPG.</div> Those are some heavy if's for a guy who has never put forth an effort in his entire career. There's no doubt that Swift has the talent to be one of the premier centers in the league. The only problem is his effort. The guy will give it his all one night and then take a month off. I used to think that he'd change, but it's been six years now since I first had that though, and well, he's the same damn Stromile.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Those are some heavy if's for a guy who has never put forth an effort in his entire career. There's no doubt that Swift has the talent to be one of the premier centers in the league. The only problem is his effort. The guy will give it his all one night and then take a month off. I used to think that he'd change, but it's been six years now since I first had that though, and well, he's the same damn Stromile.</div> I don't disagree with you by any means. I thought he'd pick it up in Houston and give them the rebounding/shot blocking athletic guy they needed next to Yao, but that didn't happen.
If does get another chance here though. I mean it was a good trade for the Grizzlies to get Swift and R.Gay. Stromile doesn't have Gasol starting so he needs to step up and get that defense straight. The man is very athletic but sometimes wonders off.
