STROMILE SWIFT Height: 6-foot-9 Weight: 230 pounds Age: 25 years old Stats: 10.1 points, 4.6 boards, 1.53 blocks in 21 minutes Status: Unrestricted Free Agent

Out of LSU, Swift was drafted with the #2 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, but has never played more than 26.5 minutes a game in any season and has been roughly a 20-minute a night guy throughout his career. He has been playing on a Memphis team blessed with a lot of depth and has been asked to play out of position, taking on the role of center at times on a team lacking a true big.

That has led many to think a new team and situation could improve things dramatically for Swift, but despite exceptional athleticism, dunking ability and shotblocking skills, there are many questions about the 6-foot-9 forward.

Stromile has been consistently inconsistent, leaving many wondering which way his numbers will go once he's given a fat deal and a 35+ minute a night playing opportunity at the four. He's also not the most intelligent player on the floor by any stretch and suffers defensively despite having all the athletic tools.

Rocket Perspective
The Rockets' biggest need is power forward, and given his age (25) and athleticism, Swift seems like a natural and tempting target for Houston, even if their cap situation makes it a fairy tale-type acquisition. He is not an offensive liability -- Stro can hit the midrange jumper and attack the rim (just under 47% shooter from the field for his career). While he's not a very good one-on-one defender, he is a terrific shotblocker, which would be a huge weakside help to Yao Ming, and could see a defensive boost playing in a Jeff Van Gundy help-oriented scheme. He is not the ideal rebounder, but could potentially snare 9 or more a night if given a healthy dose of PT.

Swift is from Louisiana and it's a little known fact that he grew up as a Rocket fan, wanting to play for Houston some day. Of course that was before Cajun Country had an NBA franchise, and the Hornets will have a lot of cap room this summer.

Conclusion
It's not likely.

Like most young players with potential who have grown out of their rookie contracts, Swift is looking to get paid, paid and paid. The Rockets will only be able to offer their mid-level exemption (MLE) and though the market could shift downward, Swift is sure to look for more than that. Memphis may not want him back at the dollar amount he's seeking, or may not want him back at all (Swift wore Bonzi Wells' jersey number on an armband in the playoffs to support him in his defiance of head coach Mike Fratello), but they consider a sign-and-trade deal involving Swift to be one of their top trading assets, and they won't be looking to help out a division rival in Houston.

So it's going to be up to Stro. If the Rockets are to have any chance with him, he'll have to be willing to take less to play here (likely 6 years, $40 million) -- or possibly be motivated to want to stick it to his old Tennessee employers, who can't afford to lose any more ground to the Rockets in the West. But rest assured, there will be several teams willing to give him the full MLE, so he will have to have a strong desire to join young stars his same age in Yao and Tracy McGrady.