shellman54
07-18-2005, 09:42 PM
HOUSTON -- Free-agent forward Stromile Swift has reached an agreement to sign with the Houston Rockets, his agent told a television station Monday.
Swift, who spent the first five years of his NBA career with the Grizzlies in Vancouver and Memphis, would join a front line that includes All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The Rockets are seeking reinforcements after losing a hard-fought seven-game series to Dallas in the first round last season. Houston hasn't won a playoff series since 1997.
Andy Miller, Swift's agent, said the player has long been interested in the Rockets. Swift lives in Shreveport, La.
"It's almost considered to be his home team, more so than even the New Orleans team," Miller told Houston television station KRIV. "He knows how good a coach Jeff Van Gundy is and how much he will get out of him as a player."
Miller declined to release terms, but KRIV reported that the Rockets can offer free agents only the midlevel salary exception of $5 million for the first season. Contracts can't be signed until the new collective bargaining agreement is in place, which could be Friday. The Rockets can't comment until then.
Miller would not comment when reached by The Associated Press on Monday.
Swift spent his first five NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds per game. He averaged career highs of 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2001-02, his second year. Memphis reached the playoffs the past two seasons with Swift but didn't win a game, getting swept by San Antonio in 2004 and Phoenix this year.
The Grizzlies, then in Vancouver, made Swift the No. 2 pick in 2000 after his sophomore season at LSU, when he led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 13 years.
Swift, who spent the first five years of his NBA career with the Grizzlies in Vancouver and Memphis, would join a front line that includes All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. The Rockets are seeking reinforcements after losing a hard-fought seven-game series to Dallas in the first round last season. Houston hasn't won a playoff series since 1997.
Andy Miller, Swift's agent, said the player has long been interested in the Rockets. Swift lives in Shreveport, La.
"It's almost considered to be his home team, more so than even the New Orleans team," Miller told Houston television station KRIV. "He knows how good a coach Jeff Van Gundy is and how much he will get out of him as a player."
Miller declined to release terms, but KRIV reported that the Rockets can offer free agents only the midlevel salary exception of $5 million for the first season. Contracts can't be signed until the new collective bargaining agreement is in place, which could be Friday. The Rockets can't comment until then.
Miller would not comment when reached by The Associated Press on Monday.
Swift spent his first five NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds per game. He averaged career highs of 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 2001-02, his second year. Memphis reached the playoffs the past two seasons with Swift but didn't win a game, getting swept by San Antonio in 2004 and Phoenix this year.
The Grizzlies, then in Vancouver, made Swift the No. 2 pick in 2000 after his sophomore season at LSU, when he led the Tigers to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 13 years.