| A Stromile Swift Signing Would Complete The Rockets Line-Up Authored by David Christopher - July 12, 2005 - 2:11 pm
In the summer of 1996, after coming home with another Olympic gold medal, Charles Barkley was traded to the Houston Rockets for Robert Horry, Sam Cassell, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant. The move placed three future hall of famers in the Rockets starting lineup and gave them a significant shot at the title.
Had it not been for a Karl Malone bear-hug-pick on Mario Elie and a John Stockton buzzer beater, the Rockets may have reached their goal and given fans one of the most epic NBA finals of all time with the Rockets going head to head with the Chicago Bulls.
Nine years later, the Rockets find themselves looking for another power forward to push them towards their goal of a third championship. While the Rockets are certainly a different team, now anchored by the youthful Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, many believe they are an athletic forward away from being a title contender. With a signing of Stromile Swift, while by no means is at the level of the “round mound of rebound”, the Houston Rockets will put themselves in position to once again challenge for an NBA championship.
In all of Jeff Van Gundy’s interviews since the Rockets’ playoff exit he has made the point that Houston is in the precarious position where if they stand pat they will lose ground, but if they make a move and ruin the chemistry the team developed late in the season it could be even more detrimental. But to win a championship you have to gamble, you must take risks. Stromile Swift is definitely in that category.
Stromile Swift was chosen with the second pick by the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2000 and to this point in his career has failed to live up to his draft number. In five seasons in the NBA he has averaged just nine points and five rebounds a game. But what is attrating the Rockets the most was the dreaded "p" word that has made so many players before attractive: potential. While he has only averaged nine points and five rebounds, he has only averaged 21 minutes a game as well.
The Rockets believe that given more time he could possibly double his output. In Memphis he played behind Pau Gasol, the tall, whiney version of Hayden Christensen. In Houston he would more than likely start of Juwan Howard and have the responsibility of making up for the toughness and athleticism that Yao Ming currently lacks, which could make the duo a potent combination.
With a frontline of Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Stromile Swift, along with the depth that Mike James, Bobby Sura, Luther Head, Juwan Howard, and possibly Dikembe Mutombo and Jon Barry bring, the Rockets would have a solid chance to reclaim the glory that “The Dream” once brought the city of Houston. But destiny is not a matter of chance, it’s a matter of choice, and if Houston is to reach the pinnacle, they will need their players to live up to the “potential” that others have seen in them. Especially Stromile Swift…
Send comments/questions to dcs_realgm@yahoo.com |
