Next gamble: Stromile Swift?

[elindholm]

Since no one left is any good anyway, should the Suns roll the dice with another RFA? Memphis already has a full 15-man roster of contracted players, even without Swift and their other RFA, Tsakalidis. Rumor has been that West is hanging onto Swift for use in a sign-and-trade, but with Dampier apparently going to New York, there doesn't seem to be any quality big man left for Memphis to go after.

I personally don't think that Swift is worth the Richardson package, but given the options...

 

[scotsman13]

i believe that i read somewhere that memphis extented him an offer to keep him of 6 million dollars. we dont have that much cash left.

 

[elindholm]

Yes, they gave him the one-year qualifying offer in order to keep his rights as an RFA. That was for $6 million.

The Suns do have that much money left if Richardson goes to the Clippers, which is assumed by my original post.

Also, a contract over multiple years could be more appealing to Swift than a one-year deal, even if the starting salary is lower. It is rumored that some teams are considering offering him the MLE over several years, which would start at $4.9 million.

 

[fordronken]

Yes, they gave him the one-year qualifying offer in order to keep his rights as an RFA. That was for $6 million.

The Suns do have that much money left if Richardson goes to the Clippers, which is assumed by my original post.

Also, a contract over multiple years could be more appealing to Swift than a one-year deal, even if the starting salary is lower. It is rumored that some teams are considering offering him the MLE over several years, which would start at $4.9 million.

The Grizz have said they'll match any offer for Swift. Especially one as reasonable as this.

 

[F-Dog]

I think Trenton Hassell will be cheaper and more achievable, and he's a better fit--the Suns need a defensive stopper at the swing positions more than they need another PF.


The Wolves are well into luxury tax territory, and the Nuggets are nearly out of cap room. My guess is that the Suns could get Hassell for what they offered Turkoglu, and they'd still have enough cap room left to sign GarbageTag.

 

[elindholm]

The Grizz have said they'll match any offer for Swift.

I know they've said that, but it could be a bluff. Some rumors have indicated that West's only real interest in Swift is as a bargaining chip in a trade for a bigger player.

 

[slinslin]

Every team says they will match any offers to their RFA to keep other teams from offering so the price stays low...

I still don't think the Clips will match for Q. It always says "sources"....like Chad Ford? Elgin Baylor only says they are trying to talk to Q and his agent and are considering all possibilities.

 

[Joe Mama]

Supposedly one of the main reasons they signed Richardson was for his personality and work ethic. Stromile Swift is a notoriously lazy player. He would provide some much-needed depth up front, but $45 million is a lot to pay someone who has trouble getting motivated.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

The real purpose could be to force the Grizzlies to overpay Swift. They they would have to trade away someone else to get under the luxury tax limit.