Swift Cleared for Contact

During summer league, I wrote a feature on Robert Swift as he neared full clearance for 5-on-5 basketball with contact. As expected, that clearance came Monday, when Swift met with Dr. Steven Lombardo in L.A.

Swift's follow-up visit came eight months and a day after Dr. Lombardo performed surgery last November, and two days shy of nine months after he initially tore the ACL in his left knee in the Oct. 25 Sonics preseason game against Sacramento.

While the timeline did not quite work out for Swift to be able to join the Sonics on the floor for summer action, he joined the team to continue his rehabilitation. Swift should be able to participate in voluntary off-season workouts at The Furtado Center starting in September, amongst other activities that will help him get back in basketball shape before the start of training camp.

As I wrote about in that story, the new Sonics brass, including GM Sam Presti and Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo, is eager to get an up-close look at Swift and how the strength he has added in his upper body will help his game.

- Newly-acquired Kurt Thomas will meet the local media on Thursday as part of his visit to Seattle after last Friday's trade.