<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Washington Post - League and Wizards sources confirmed that the team offered unrestricted free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson a four-year deal worth approximately $12 million. Stevenson, who turned down a three-year, $10 million offer from the Orlando Magic last summer, earned just less than $1 million last season.</div> Link That's the kind of deal Washington needs to make. With Nick Young on the team and Navarro being an option, overpaying Stevenson is not needed at all. We'll see if Stevenson takes this, because I don't know if there's anyone looking to overpay him.
When it said off, I thought they killed him, but then I saw the 4 years 12 mill. It is a good contract for him, I like him alot, he is a good shooter. i rather the Raptors signed him for that price, and they probably could of got some other players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Wizards have increased their offer to unrestricted free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson to four years with a total salary of around $15 million, but Stevenson has not accepted that offer, according to team and league sources. Wednesday is the first day free agents can formally sign contracts, and a source close to Stevenson said the team and player are "moving closer" to an agreement.</div> Link I don't like this too much. This seems to me like a contract the Wizards will end up not being to happy about later. Yes it's not much now, but down the road when you're trying to make the team a contender it could be the contract that's putting you in to luxury tax and holding some things back. Stevenson is not a bad player, but he's not that good and with the drafting of Nick Young, though it's not certain he will be good, the Wizards maybe should be looking for a guy to hold the starting SG for one year till Young takes it. Deshawn doesn't fill a specific need on the team, he's just a gap fill guy right now. Playing on the Wizards with Arenas and the rest can do a lot for other SG's in the league, and the Wizards could find a cheaper guy who can do what Deshawn does because I don't see him improving anymore than the player he is now.
Well, besides a dominant center that's going expiring next season, then who else could we look at? With Nick Young and Navarro(Or dude we trade for), it's not necessary that we make a move at the 2 spot. Antonio Daniels is only 32 years and you know how efficient he is off the bench, so I'm not ready to let him go yet. Who do you have in mind that could the same as Stevenson can for less the price?
I don't actually think in general it's a bad contract for Stevenson, but I don't think it's a good contract for the Wizards in signing Stevenson. First of all, the Wizards seem like they're bidding against themselves. When Stevenson came to the Wizards, he had only Orlando and Washington offer him legit contracts. Right now we're hearing no one offering money for him, while there's about 8 teams looking for Navarro, so it clearly shows who's more valuable. If the Wizards get in a position where they sign Stevenson and don't have enough money to sign Navarro, then it decreases Navarro's value as teams will realize they have to trade him. So the Wizards need to solve Navarro before giving Stevenson offers. Since the sources aren't from EG's mouth, I won't take everything as truth, but based on what we're hearing. Stevenson's small looking contract can be the difference in the Wizards being able to sign a big name FA and become a true contender after Jamison opts out. This goes back to my building to be a contender, not just to be competitive. Too much money, yes, even all the additions of the little contracts, just to make a team competive is what kills a franchise. Stevenson's small looking contract will also be the difference between the Wizards being in luxury tax realm or not. The Wizards always have the MLE, even when over the cap EG still get a player of Stevenson's caliber (actually, even better) coming off the bench for the team. And for the present, he could give a one year contract to a guy like Derek Anderson to hold the starting SG spot, or start Arenas and AD with Navarro and Young off the bench.
Wait, is it necessary that we have to sign Navarro in order to trade him or could we trade his rights to another team? Ernie Grunfeld is looking heavily to trade Navarro anyway, so I don't think there's any worry to wonder if he's going to stay here. According to Ivan's blog, he's in Vegas right now chatting it up with a few GM's about Navarro. How does our salary cap situation looking? I'm not even sure how much money we have to spend.
Well the Wizards are well over the cap, but in terms of luxury tax, the Wizards payroll is currently at $60,474,792 with Opec and Young signed, and Jarvis Hayes' cap hold. I'll subract Hayes' hold though, and the team salary is at $56,982,452. Let's say Blatche get's 4 years $17.5 million, so he would start at about $3.9 million, bringing the salaries to $60,882,452. If Stevenson get's 4 years $15 million, he'll start at about $3 million, bringing the team salary to $63,882,452. That will really start bringing the team very close to luxury tax area, which should be something like $65 million this year. In terms of cap space for 08' when there'll be KG, Brand, etc, even a guy like Al Jefferson if he doesn't get an extenstion, the Wizards would need to make a trade to get enough space to make a move at one of the bigger guys if Arenas wants a max deal starting at about $16.5 million. Something like packaging Etan in any deal that's being made, and getting less salary back. The Washington post is also reporting that Ernie is saying any team that wants Navarro must be willing to take Etan Thomas and/or Antonio Daniels and give back a high first round pick or a high quality player.
Stevenson was pretty good last year. Also, he's Gilbert's friend, and you never know what might happen if you keep shipping off his buds...
Haha, it's good you mentioned it, I was talking to some people about how EG might choose Stevenson over Navarro in order to make Gil happy, but EG also has a limit on how much he will be willing to spend on Deshawn.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Wizards Notes: According to team sources, the Wizards and unrestricted free agent shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson have reached in impasse in negotiations. The Wizards have offered a four-year, $15 million contract, but Stevenson is seeking closer to $18 million over four years, according to sources.</div> Link Oh, damn...even when I thought 15 mill was too much for him. Do any other teams have that high of an interest to spare that much money for him?
