Sonics Looking for Signals from Swift

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What must be remembered is that Robert Swift is still just 19 years old and one year removed from high school. Sometimes that tidbit gets overlooked when assessing the Sonics and their dilemma at center.

Assuming that Swift can step in and replace Jerome James, an unrestricted free agent who is drawing interest from New York, is a bit farfetched. But over the next 10 days, the Sonics are hoping to receive enough evidence from their first-round pick (No. 12 overall) in the 2004 draft at the Rocky Mountain Revue to believe that he's able to fill a backup position.

"At some point in time I hope we can see a little more fire from him," said assistant coach Jack Sikma, who is directing the Sonics' summer-league team. "It's not necessary now while we're trying to get through this camp, but when we get to the summer league it shouldn't just be Mateen (Cleaves) leading the team and getting people going.

"He's got to accept a little of that responsibility. Guys are going to be looking for that. Being more vocal and just being tough. Go after it, competing-wise, every second and every possession. I think that will happen ? to what quality and quantity, I don't know."

So much is unknown about Swift. No other 2004 first-round draft pick scored fewer than his 15 points, and he appeared in just 16 games and played a total of 72 minutes.

He spent more of the past season in the weight room than on the court, adding 10 pounds of muscle to his 7-foot, 250-pound frame and lowering his body fat from 14 percent to 9. He's always had strong legs, which gives him a solid base, but his upper body is still undefined and boyish.

More than anything else, this camp is all about Swift and 7-foot rookie Johan Petro, the Sonics' top pick in last month's draft. But where others see competition between the two young centers, Swift sees an opportunity.

"It's not like I was nervous or anything when they drafted him," Swift said. "I didn't see it like that, and I don't look at it as a me-or-him thing. We're just out there to work and have fun.

"We're in the same spot, pretty much. Last year against Jerome and Vitaly [Potapenko], they just had fun with me. Now, we're kind of learning together."</div>

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