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.