Attention Oden: The Robert Swift Theorem

Recently, we've spent ~~much ink~~ many pixels on the body sculpting ways of Greg Oden. Unable to work out in normal fashion whilst recovering from the microfracture, Oden took to the weight bench, gaining roughly 30 pounds of upper body muscle in a month or so. The Blazers got nervous about the extra weight's impact on his recovery and shut him down a little bit.

Seattle's Robert Swift was not so lucky to have suits breathing down his neck over the summer. The once-gangly Sonic spent last season on the shelf with a jacked knee suffered in preseason; he added 40 pounds of muscle (and possibly a gallon of ink). Now, all the bodybuilding is being blamed for Swift's incomplete knee recovery, according to a Percy Allen story in the Seattle Times.

"He might be too big," the Sonics coach [P.J. Carlesimo] said after a brief practice Thursday morning. "He worked hard in the summer ... but right now the additional weight is a little bit of a challenge and he's working on shedding a few pounds and that will help him out with the rehab."

The continuing knee problems have helped limit Bob to 81 minutes of playing time this year. My question: How much can you blame the problems on the recent turmoil the Sonics franchise has seen? From April 19 to July 3 -- almost three months -- Swift didn't have a coach. I can't find corroboration the strength and conditioning staff remained in place in Seattle during that span, though I doubt it -- KeyArena was mostly abandoned all summer. Did Swift add all the bulk only after Carlesimo came to town? Not likely -- by the middle of August Seattle journalists were already reporting on Bob's new bod. I'm not saying Clay Bennett's lack of... zest to fill key franchise openings in the spring could cost Swift's year and/or career. But I'm guessing having someone to pay attention to your 21-year-old . I'm not saying insecure center would help in such situations.