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Griz get even younger with Swift
Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- By taking Stromile Swift with
the second overall pick in the NBA draft Wednesday, the Vancouver Grizzlies took another step along the road to respectability.
Swift, the 6-foot-9 sophomore from Louisiana State, will bring
versatility, a scorer's touch and shot-blocking ability to a team
that needs to score more and allow fewer points.
|  | | Second pick Stromile Swift poses with NBA commissioner David Stern moments after Vancouver selected Swift. |
Vancouver struggled to a 22-60 record last season, setting a
franchise record for victories. They were ranked 26th in the league
for scoring and 17th in points allowed last year.
But fans hoping the Grizzlies will grow some teeth instead of
being teddy bears next season shouldn't expect miracles from a
20-year-old rookie, said general manager Billy Knight.
"He's young, I want everyone to understand that and not expect
immediate gratification," Knight said. "He's an athletic player,
he's improving. He has a great shooting touch for a guy his size.
He adds an element we need, shot blocking. He moves his feet really
well."
Swift averaged 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and almost three
blocked shots last season.
As thrilled as the Grizzlies are with Swift's potential,
management is ecstatic he wants to play in Vancouver.
"I'm pleased they made me the No. 2 pick and I'm looking
forward to making an impact in Canada," Swift said. "Everything
there seems perfect to me. It looks like a good situation. I'm
looking forward to contributing to the program."
The Grizzlies were frustrated and embarrassed last year when
they used the No. 2 pick to take guard Steve Francis, who refused
to play in Vancouver and forced a trade to Houston.
New coach Sidney Lowe said it's difficult to predict when a player
like Swift can make an impact on a team.
"We can't lose sight of the fact he is young," Lowe said.
"There's a chance it will take some time. He's going to have his
ups and downs. The important thing is he bounce back from those
downs and not be too devastated by disappointments.
"We don't want to put too much pressure on him."
The Grizzlies are hoping Swift will be a nice complement to
small forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim's scoring, plus the play-making
of guards Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson.
One down side is the Grizzlies have got even younger. Swift
joins a lineup that includes Abdur-Rahim, 23, Bibby, 22, and
Dickerson, 25. The oldest starter is center Bryant "Big Country"
Reeves, 27.
Knight denied acquiring Swift opens the door to the Grizzlies
trading Othella Harrington.
Harrington, who played the power forward spot last season,
hasn't hid his disdain of living in Vancouver's cold and damp
weather. His 15.9 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, combined with a
salary in the $2 million a year range, makes him attractive to
other teams.
"Nothing like that has been discussed," Knight said. "We like
Othella, he's a quality player and because we add a forward doesn't
mean that we want to get rid of a forward. It means that we have
good players in those positions."
The draft was the first chance for Vancouver president Dick
Versace and his staff of Knight, Lowe and consultant Chuck Daly to
begin to shape the Grizzlies.
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