ESPN is reporting that the Memphis Grizzlies have signed free agent forward Stromile Swift to a one year deal.  Swift, who now becomes a one year bird player, will not be able a tradeable commodity for Memphis during the next season.

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.

According to Fox Sports it appears that high flying Grizzlie Stromile Swift is set to follow in the footsteps of Michael Olowonkandi and sign a one-year qualifying offer for this season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The two sides remain far apart on a contract, and the Grizzlies have not gotten an acceptable sign-and-trade offer from the half-dozen or so teams who have inquired about Swift.

By accepting the qualifying offer Swift will become untradeable for the 2004-05 season, having twelve months in a Grizzlies uniform to increase the value of his stock before hitting the open market free to join any team he desires.  Memphis has the right to match any contract offer this offseason.

Jerry West was very keen on acquiring Erick Dampier this summer in a sign-and-trade deal, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the deal breaker was Chris Mullin's insistance that Evan Eschmeyer be included in any such deal.  

The Mavs pulled the trigger on Dampier and are now trying to buy out the remaining three years and $10.8 million of Eschmeyer's deal.

The Grizzlies went on to match the offer sheet given to Jake Tsakalidis by the Cleveland Cavaliers, to fill out the center position.

Memphis head coach Hubie Brown, who turns 71 on Saturday, has assured GM Jerry West that he's ready to coach the Grizzlies for at least one more season.

Brown continues to insist that he doesn't want to commit to anything more than a one year at a time ... and only after summertime consultations with his family and his doctors.

"I ran into him the other day and he had that light in his eyes," West said. "The one thing I've said to him is, 'I don't want you to ever jeopardize your health.' But he will be back, and he's anxious to go. He's very excited.

"I can't say enough good things about him. He's one of the brightest people I've ever been around. He's made himself an icon (in Memphis). I don't even want to think about him not being there, to be candid with you."

The Memphis Grizzlies have offered Stromile Swift, a restricted free agent, several deals. Swift and his agent, Mason Ashe, have yet to agree to those terms, apparently because of multiple incentive clauses.

"I'm going to talk to his people again (this week)," West said, "but it would not surprise me if he would sign his one-year tender and become (an unrestricted) free agent next summer."

When West was asked if Swift would be in a Grizzly uniform this season, he replied, "Yes. Absolutely," before adding the team had no desire to trade Swift.

The Golden State Warriors negotiated a sign-and-trade deal involving Erick Dampier, which would have returned Swift and other teams have avoided offering him a deal, with utter expectation that it will be matched by Memphis.

Pau Gasol has hired SFX Sports Group led by agent Arn Tellem -- someone who has a strong and favorable relationship with Griz president Jerry West and oversees a notable client list that includes, Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer, Corey Maggette, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal.

"I hired him because I thought he was the best person to get what I'm looking for at this time in my career," Gasol said in a telephone interview from Spain. "I thought he'd do a better job at this time. It's an important time for me personally. This is an important contract."

Teams have until Oct. 29 to extend the contracts of first-round picks from Gasol's draft class of 2001. It is believed that Gasol will seek a six-year deal worth more than $70 million.

Critical to Gasol's negotiations will be how motivated the Grizzlies are on working out an extension before this season. If the Grizzlies forced Gasol to wait until next season, they could offer an extension within the framework of a new and very different collective bargaining agreement.

The league's agreement with its players' union expires following the 2004-05 campaign. Many agents and league executives believe a new labor deal would limit guaranteed contracts to four years, significantly reducing Gasol's earning potential.

Gasol is under contract for the coming season, and would become a restricted free agent next summer if he doesn't agree to an extension before November. That means a team with salary cap room would likely make Gasol an offer, giving the Griz 15 days to match.

"I want to be in Memphis," Gasol said.

Chances are that the Memphis Grizzlies do and so if another team signs Stomile Swift to an offer sheet, it will be promptly matched.  

Swift averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds per game last season in only 20 minutes.

Earlier this summer Swift was close to joining the Atlanta Hawks, but an offer sheet was never signed.  It is appearing more likely that Swift will attempt to sign a one year deal with the Grizzlies and become an unrestricted free-agent after this coming season.

Cleveland GM Jim Paxson wasn't at all shocked when the Memphis Grizzlies matched the offer sheet to Jake Tsakalidis.

"We thought it was about 50/50 that they'd match," Paxson said.

"Jake is an important part of the Grizzlies' future," Grizzlies president Jerry West said in a statement. "We were very impressed with his efforts and work last season."

Paxson is now looking to free-agent forward Keon Clark to fill out his frontcourt.  The 6-11 Clark missed nearly all of last season with an ankle injury and was traded twice. But two years ago, he averaged 11.3 points in 80 games and was a big difference-maker off the bench for Sacramento.

Clark's been with five NBA teams in six years. He's twice been charged with marijuana possession and was reportedly suspended while at UNLV for testing positive for marijuana.

Jake Tsakalidis signed a three-year contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, ending Cleveland's bid to acquire the reserve center.

The Cavs were looking to Tsakalidis to back up the sometimes injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The 7-foot-2, 290-pound Tsakalidis averaged 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.3 minutes with the Grizzlies last season. He played in 40 games.

The Grizzlies have until October 29th to sign Pau Gasol to a longterm deal, but all indications show that Jerry West and company are wavering on the notion that the Spaniard deserves a maximum deal.

Gasol was the Rookie of the Year and has steadily improved, showcasing his talents on the global stage this past August in Athens.

If Memphis doesn't sign him before October 29th then another team can sign Gasol to an offer sheet, that can of course be matched, but as a vote of confidence and a sign of good faith, the Grizzlies would be wise to re-sign Gasol prior to the season.