The Phoenix Suns today signed free-agent forward Stromile Swift for the remainder of the season, the club announced. Swift became available after being waived on March 1 by the New Jersey Nets and as a result is eligible for postseason play.
“We are very pleased to be able to add a player of Stromile’s caliber at this late date,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “We believe that his athleticism, length and experience will be valuable to us as we head down the stretch run.”
The 6-10, 225-pound Swift was originally the second overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies and has spent his nine-year career split between Vancouver/Memphis, Houston and New Jersey. Swift owns career averages of 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.0 minutes in 534 games.
The Louisiana State product is an athletic and versatile forward who enjoyed his best professional campaigns in his first stint with the Grizzlies (2000-05), including four-straight seasons of at least 9.4 points and 45 percent shooting from the field beginning with his sophomore season in 2001-02.
Swift, 29, has made two career playoff trips, both with Memphis (2004, 2005), including the Grizzlies’ 2005 first-round series against the Suns, in which he averaged a career playoff-high 9.3 points in 16.0 minutes in three appearances.
A 2001 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competitor as a rookie, Swift averaged 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in six games with the Nets this season.
Swift will be in uniform tonight when the Suns return to action against the Miami Heat at 5:30 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena. The game can be seen locally on MY45 and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.
Memphis Grizzlies center Chris Mihm underwent successful right ankle surgery, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. There is no timetable for his return.
The Denver Nuggets have signed G Jason Hart for the remainder of the season, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd had successful surgery this morning to repair the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, General Manager John Hammond announced today.
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard/forward James White of the NBA D-League’s Anaheim Arsenal to a 10-day contract. White becomes the 12th Call-Up of the season.
The Oregonian (Joe Freeman) reports (via blog): The news just keeps getting worse for Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden and his mysterious ailing left knee. The Blazers, after evaluating their starting center earlier in the day, announced Monday evening that Oden will miss another seven to 10 days because of his lingering left knee issues. Oden, who chipped his knee cap when he banged knees with Golden State’s Corey Maggette Feb. 12 in Oakland, has missed the Blazers’ last seven games. According to the Blazers’ latest timeline, Oden will miss between four and six more games, which includes pivotal matchups against playoff contenders Denver, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers. If he sits out the maximum 10 days, Oden will return just before the team’s five-game East Coast trip later this month.
The Denver Nuggets have suspended F Carmelo Anthony for one game following an in-game transgression Sunday against Indiana.
The Washington Post (Ivan Carter) report (via blog): Spoke with DeShawn Stevenson before the game and he said that he’s undergoing surgery later this week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. That means his season is officially over. He said it would be roughly two months before he can resume hoops activity.
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent center Cheikh Samb has been signed to a 10-day contract.