<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ORLANDO - In a perfect world, general manager Otis Smith would like to see his Orlando Magic begin training camp in October with the two-headed tandem of DeShawn Stevenson and J.J. Redick at shooting guard. Stevenson, Orlando's best on-ball defender and grittiest player last season, would serve the role of defensive stopper. Meanwhile, Redick, the 11th overall selection in Wednesday's NBA Draft, would provide much-needed scoring punch from beyond the 3-point line. But simple economics might destroy Smith's grand plan. Fresh off his finest NBA season, Stevenson becomes an unrestricted free agent today and might demand a payday that the Magic deem excessive. Stevenson opted out of the final year of a contract that was to pay him $2.9 million next season, and he likely will seek a deal of three to four years averaging almost $5 million a season. The Magic consider Stevenson, 25, such a priority that Smith flew to Los Angeles on Friday for a face-to-face meeting with the 6-foot-5 guard and his agent, Rob Pelinka. The NBA's free-agent courting period opened at midnight, and Smith and Pelinka are planning to meet the next two days in hopes of hammering out a new contract. Deals can't officially be signed until July 12, but teams started the negotiating process just after midnight. Pelinka said four teams already have contacted him expressing an interest in possibly signing Stevenson. "Option one for us is to retain DeShawn," Smith said. "Option two is getting somebody to fill in the hole there. They could be on our roster already or we could get a free agent who could be serviceable. But I don't think any of them would cost us in the ballpark of where DeShawn is."</div> Source This is an interesting article and I figured I would share it with you guys. Stevenson seems to be drawing some interest from other teams and he is asking for a lot more than we can give him. He wants a deal similar to that of Shane Battier (six years, $36.8 million), Marquis Daniels (six years, $36.7 million), Antonio Daniels (five years, $30 million) or Seattle's Earl Watson (five years, $29 million). We are trying to get him for cheaper similar to the contracts of Bruce Bowen (four years, $12 million) or Raja Bell (five years, $24 million). If we can't work something out, Otis said we would fill the gap by possibly signing someone. Here are some free agent options: Ruben Patterson Donta Smith James Posey Qyntel Woods All of these guys are good defenders and could take Stevenson's spot.
Patterson is a problem child though. I don't think bringing him into the mix would be such a good idea..
Last thing this team needs is a problem child that can influence our young guys. I hope we can keep Stevenson, if we do we would have a very deep team.
Why do these 4 teams want him? He doesn't really have any talents that stand out above many other players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Why do these 4 teams want him? He doesn't really have any talents that stand out above many other players.</div> He is a very solid player and he's still only 25, so he hasn't hit his prime yet. He doesn't need to score to be effective. He avg 11+ ppg last year, while being our last option on the floor all the time and having to guard the opposing teams best wing. He shot 46% from the floor. He always gives 110%, he makes so many plays that don't show up on the stat sheet. I see why the teams like him. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Replace him with Posey and call it a day.</div> Posey would be more expensive then Deshawn and if we don't even want to offer him the cash, why would we want to offer Posey?
I like that idea. If by chance management were able to sign Posey, i'd see a greater possibility of Redick with the starting job. I just couldn't imagine the perimeter defense with Turk, JJ, and Jameer out on the floor...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting giftedvisionz:</div><div class="quote_post">I like that idea. If by chance management were able to sign Posey, i'd see a greater possibility of Redick with the starting job. I just couldn't imagine the perimeter defense with Turk, JJ, and Jameer out on the floor...</div> I see it as either Turk or JJ will start and the management has to decide which one and to me it's a no brainer to start Hedo over JJ since Hedo was a huge part of our great run at the end of the year and JJ hasn't proven anything yet.
Posey would have been nice, but I think Redick and Ariza will be the future at the SG position for us. Stevenson would be great to have for defense but having a 3 pt shooter would really open up the middle for Dwight and Darko.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He is a very solid player and he's still only 25, so he hasn't hit his prime yet. He doesn't need to score to be effective. He avg 11+ ppg last year, while being our last option on the floor all the time and having to guard the opposing teams best wing. He shot 46% from the floor. He always gives 110%, he makes so many plays that don't show up on the stat sheet. I see why the teams like him</div> I just feel that you can find many guys like that all around, even guys that are younger than him, but I guess it's okay.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I just feel that you can find many guys like that all around, even guys that are younger than him, but I guess it's okay.</div> That may have been the case two seasons ago but last season Stevenson grew alot and turned into our best one on one defender while still contributing on offense.
