free agency: DeShawn Stevenson

[td4mvp3]

Magic guard Stevenson opts out of contractESPN.com news services


MIAMI -- Orlando Magic guard DeShawn Stevenson opted out of his contract and has become an unrestricted free agent, according to a statement from his agent, Rob Pelinka.

The 6-foot-5 shooting guard would have earned $3 million had he stayed with the Magic for the final year of his contact. Instead, the six-year veteran seems set to improve on that amount in a summer free agent market that's short on quality wing players. While Stevenson has struggled to establish himself as an offensive force since turning pro out of high school in 2001, he was Orlando's best perimeter defender and started all 82 games.

Stevenson, 25, averaged 11.0 points per game and shot a career-high 46.0 percent for the Magic in 2005-06, averaging 32.3 minutes per game. However, he made only two 3-pointers all season. Stevenson was traded to Orlando from Utah on Feb. 19, 2004 after spending his first three-plus seasons with the Jazz.

i don't know enough about this guy to say anything, but what are your thoughts?

[nbascribe]

Hell flippin naw.......

Don't need that head case. Send his ass back to Utah and give us back Devin!!!!

[whottt]

He sucks...but his departure leaves the Magic trying to win now with no 2 guard and having to look to the draft or pay $$$ in FA just to get one on their team.

This is good for the Spurs in that, if the Magic are forced to pay some substantial $$$ for this guy, it decreases the likelyhood that they will match a decent offer to Ariza.

The Magic literally have no 2 guards of any worth on their roster now...and it was already a need for them. Whereas SF isn't...

Add to all of this the fact that they have 4 draft picks, an over the cap payroll, no depth behind Howard and Darko, and about 100 million tied up in SF's already...and you see why some are specualating that Ariza can be had if a team is willing to go over the minimum.

SF is not the need for the Magic...everything else is, including staying below the tax threshold.

[ducks]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44018

[MoSpur]

I like Ariza. Don't know if the Spurs have a chance to get him though.

[GrandeDavid]

This dude should hang with Chris Henry of the Bengals since they both like getting minors drunk. At least you know Stevenson would be a great locker room presence.

[Drive Like Jehu]

He'll want at least three mil...not worth it.

[SenorSpur]

I like Ariza. Don't know if the Spurs have a chance to get him though.

Who is he?

[Texas_Ranger]

He'll want at least three mil...not worth it.

agree

[exstatic]

If we're going to try a reclamation project this summer, I'd much rather it be with 20 YO JR Smith than 25 YO DeShawn Stevenson. He's been in the league for 6 years, been on teams with veteran presence (Utah, 3 years) and he's still a dumbfuck? Not much hope there...

[ChumpDumper]

Oddly enough, Otis is talking like he's going to try to keep Stevenson -- so who knows?