<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">At 7 feet, Robert Swift has three inches on Nick Collison. Other than that, Swift is giving away five years and about 20 pounds in a side-by-side comparison. But in a head-to-head matchup, Swift's resistance was stiff when the two began playing against each other at the beginning of July. "He doesn't back down at all," Collison said. "He's a pretty strong kid, actually. He looks thin, but he's pretty strong. "If he gets on your back it's tough. He doesn't let you push him around." Of course, this isn't a head-to-head battle for minutes. Collison is 23 years old and expected to be a prominent part of Seattle's rotation after missing last season because of surgery on both shoulders. Swift was chosen with the 12th pick last month, the same slot Collison was chosen in 2003. But Swift is 18, weighs 246 pounds and just began lifting weights as a senior at Bakersfield High School. Even the most optimistic appraisals have him a year away from being part of a regular rotation. On draft night, general manager Rick Sund named Jermaine O'Neal as an example for gradual development. O'Neal averaged fewer than 14 minutes each of his first four seasons in the league. Except Swift might be more stout than expected, and Jack Sikma complimented his lower-body strength from the first day Swift worked out for the team after the draft. "He's got some sand in his pants," Sikma said in June.</div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Danny O'Neil and the Seattle PI.</font> Just reading some scrimmage recaps, it seems the kid is really impressing. He is physical, doesn't get pushed around when he establishes low post position, and generally has great court awareness. While obviously there is a big difference between an offseason intrasquad scrimmage and a regular season NBA game, I still think we'll see this guy on the floor sooner than expected. One bit I did like was Ridnour saying that Swift was trying to dunk everything. I like the fact he isn't afraid to take it at the basket, and you're not going to get anywhere in this league by being timid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">That's our 04-05 slogan - "He's got sand in his pants."</div>
Sandy pants has signed his first NBA contract, for 4.4 million and a team option for a fourth year. If I'm not mistaked he'll be wearing Brent's old 31, too.
From everything that I've read he seems to be a competive kid at least. You figured that everything said will at least be positive until the season rolls around. Hopefully he can get off to a good start in the summer league.
Jack Sikma wants him play AT LEAST 25 minutes a game in Summer League, so it will be interesting to see how he goes against a lot of big guys without guaranteed contracts who are hungry to make a final roster. Very different to scrimmages.
I've been saying this before and I'll say it again. Swift will be one of the few legit and solid C's in the future.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">I've been saying this before and I'll say it again. Swift will be one of the few legit and solid C's in the future.</div> Hopefully you're right. One thing I like is he used superior footwork and basketball smarts to dominate a strong HS competition, not just athleticism like so many kids do these days.
I know very little about this guy and it's great to hear he can at least hang with the Sonic players.
I must admit i'm beginning to warm to Swift. I think what I had a problem with in the beginning is that I knew nothing about him...but he obviously is NBA caliber and good enough to be picked #12.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">Hopefully you're right. One thing I like is he used superior footwork and basketball smarts to dominate a strong HS competition, not just athleticism like so many kids do these days.</div> Yeah. In this age, guys his size in HS tend to just "fly out of the building" to get their points. While Swift has terrific post moves to go with his desire to dunk, block and rebound everything. He relies on his positioning AND his athleticism. Give him 3-5 years. A more athletic and defensive minded Rik Smits anyone?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">A more athletic and defensive minded Rik Smits anyone?</div> I have heard that comparison from a couple of people. Smits, when healthy, was one of the best natural centers in the game, so anything like that would be a real find for the Sonics.
