The Nets are trying to pry Stromile Swift from Houston

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His absence is killing the Suns because there isn't anybody else to take his place. Being replacable doesn't mean that it's irrelevant if you get hurt. We only have seven players right now. Remember last year when the media said "See! Steve Nash is hurt! The entire team is just him!"? If the Suns had a competent to good back up point guard last year, the team would have suffered, yes, but they would not have totally collapsed. Look how having Kurt Thomas means the Suns "are doing fine without Amare for the time being"? Long term, I'd rather have an atheletic, young, shot blocking big man than a young guy who ended up being a decent defender and a pretty good three point shooter. James Jones was a great find, but if he can be turned into Stromile Swift, I like the potential for the team better.

I wouldn't want to change James Jones into a Stromile Swift. We dont even know if Swift will ever be able to live up to his potential as a player, and he's been around a while. James Jones does fit into the phoenix system, and does perform well as a swing player. He can shoot, run and play D. Swift can run and might be able to play D, though he needs alot of work on his shot. The suns system tries to spread the defense, swift does not even command a double on the low block against many defenders, and cant shoot outside 8-10 ft, so the opposing team can use HIS man to double when he is outside his small shooting range. It seems to me that he really doesnt fit the suns system, other that being able to run. All of our bigs are better shooters than swift, even Burke. To trade a rising talent like JR for a question mark with potential seems desperate. When Amare comes back, JR will be a much better complimentary player than swift for the suns.