Stromile Swift signs one-year deal

[Kori Ellis]

Grizzlies Sign Swift to One-Year Deal

By Associated Press
Posted October 1 2004, 4:24 AM EDT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies signed restricted free agent forward Stromile Swift to a one-year deal Thursday.

Terms of the contract were not released.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Swift has averaged 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 292 career games with the Grizzlies. Last season he averaged 9.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and had a career-high 118 blocked shots while primarily coming off the bench.

Grizzlies president Jerry West said negotiations with Swift's agent were difficult, and the pressure is on the four-year veteran to prove he is worthy of a long-term deal.

"Obviously, this is a very important year for Stromile," West said. "We expect Stromile to go out and have a great year, and pressure us to sign him to the type of contract he is seeking. Even though he will be an unrestricted free agent next year, we can bid on him and we definitely want Stromile to remain a Grizzlie."

Swift was selected by the Grizzlies out of LSU as the second overall pick in the 2000 draft.

[Kori Ellis]

It's interesting that they couldn't get a deal done. Either he wanted an outrageous deal and Jerry West is smart enough not to do it, or maybe he just wants out of there. Either way, it was risky considering how much the CBA may change.

I really want Tony to get his contract done this month. I don't want the Spurs to have to worry about him next summer and I know some stupid team will offer him the max next year. Point guards are too hard to come by; they need to make it happen now.

[ducks]

seems to me he wants a big payday