<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ESPN.com - DeShawn Stevenson rejected a three-year deal from the Orlando Magic worth $10 million last month. Now, the free agent guard who wanted a four-year deal, is settling for a two-year deal at the league minimum to play for the Washington Wizards . The deal includes a player option for next season making it very likely Stevenson will be a free agent again next season. Stevenson's new agent Mark Bartelstein says their just wasn't a lot of money left out in the market. "There just isn't much money left out there," Bartelstein said. "This gives DeShawn an excellent opportunity to play significant minutes on a very good team. I think by next summer, the rest of the league will see his real value and he'll earn back the money he lost." </div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2538921 Wow, this is great. Great job by EG on this one, he'll definately help the team in terms of depth and he can provide defense and athleticism. Does this mean no more JJ?
Wow, I hate him. He always said he wanted to stay in Orlando but he asked for to much money. Now he goes to another team, in our division, for the minimum. He isn't going to get a friendly welcome when the Wizards come to Orlando. I can tell you that. I just lost a lot of respect for him.
Yea, the guy opted out of $3 million, and turnover down a 3 year $10 million contract asking for 4 years just to go and sign a 2 year minimun contract. He kinda put himself in a bad situation though. EJ's system is great for athletic guards, so I expect Stevenson to do quite well on the Wizards.
What the hell. Isn't he a little too young and unproven to be turning down contracts like that? He's gonna have to perform very well and stay healthy in Washington to get a bigger contract.
Nice steal for the Wizards. I don't understand how he's settled for minimum when he wanted more money which Orlando offered to him. I'm very excited to see him play and what he can do for the Wizards, he can do a lot off the bench for them.
I like this signing. He could blossom in our offense. Eddie Jordan runs a guard-oriented offense, so this signing could bring out all the potential in Stevenson. Also, with this signing, I see Jeffries as a Knick.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chuck:</div><div class="quote_post">Get used to missed wide open jumpshots, layups, and free throws</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Get used to crazy layups.</div> I know people always say this when they lose a player that's only marginal, but look at it this way, Stevenson shot 40% eFG on his jumpers last season and that's with him takin 15 three's through the year, so it's just on his mid-range jumpers. Jeffries took 50 three's, made 16 (.320%), and shot a 31% eFG on his jumpers. Jeffeies shot 58.9% from the line, Stevenson shot 74.4%. That is a good difference between the players in terms of offensive and shooting ability. Jeffries is a little better at finishing inside, and because he's 6'11 he gets more dunk oppurtunities, but Stevenson though not a "good" offensive player is better than him. Also with EJ's system, Stevenson will likely improve his offensive game as a Wizard as the season goes along. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">get use to Caron Bulter asking "why u taking me out and putting in that loser"</div> I don't think Caron's losing any minutes because of this. Remember that Jeffries will likely be gone now. Caron plays the 3, Stevenson will backup at the 2, or he could possibly star at the 2 since we don't actually have a SG.
Stevenson is a bargain for the minimum. H'es a quality player. He struggled missing layups, but he also was playing on a bum leg and most of the layups he missed, he likely would have dunked if he was healthy. He's also improved his shooting big time. He's actually become a pretty quality mid range jump shooter. The defense that he brings makes up for it. Don't expect him to put up 15-20 ppg or anything, he will likely stay around a 10-12 ppg scorer that brings great hustle, great energy and great defense. He's one of those guys that doesn't need the ball to be happy. He just needs to be out on the court. I tihnk I remember reading where he said he would rather just go out and try to shutdown the star wing on the other team than focus on his scoring load. I'm not bitter that he left the Magic, because we signed Bogans and Ariza for the price he was asking for. It's him that's going to suffer next season making 2 mil less, not the Magic.
I didn't bash on DeShawn's shooting. He is actually pretty consistent when it comes to knocking down mid range jumpers. I was talking about his finishing around the basket. He puts up some crazy layups and sometimes it seems like he is trying to hard to draw the foul and make and get to the line rather than just getting the ball into the basket. On fast breaks he is ok but there were many times last season where he drove and did like a reverse crazy finger roll and just hopes it gets lucky. Some people say it was because he injured his knee and had to change his game (because it was harder for him to get up and dunk) but other than that, I don't have any problems with his game. He is a good defender and will contribute off the bench for you guys. At the league minimum he is a steal and I just wish he would have stayed in Orlando where he probably would have started all season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow, I hate him. He always said he wanted to stay in Orlando but he asked for to much money. Now he goes to another team, in our division, for the minimum. He isn't going to get a friendly welcome when the Wizards come to Orlando. I can tell you that. I just lost a lot of respect for him.</div> Totally agree with you. I think he's a fantastic player, but the man asked for more money from the magic. Yet he signs with the Wizards for minumum. Talk abotu some bullshit
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Remedy:</div><div class="quote_post">Totally agree with you. I think he's a fantastic player, but the man asked for more money from the magic. Yet he signs with the Wizards for minumum. Talk abotu some bullshit</div> Maybe he thought playing with the Wizards would be a better fit for him? Or that he could be part of a better team and be a bigger part of their success while raising his value.
