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I see this:
Small forward Trevor Ariza, a restricted free agent, could be signed before Stevenson but Smith wouldn't speculate on the length of a contract for Ariza.
I don't see anything there saying they've got a deal worked out...only a journalist speculating that he could be signed before Stephenson...
And like has been the story all along...they aren't willing to pay much to resign him:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...orts-headlines
Not-so-big spenders target NBA free agents
With the Magic focused on DeShawn Stevenson, only 5 teams have plenty of space under the salary cap.
Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith isn't wasting any time, traveling to Los Angeles to make his official contract offer today to free agent DeShawn Stevenson.
But don't expect to see Stevenson smiling.
The gap between what the Magic will be offering and what he is asking for is pretty wide.
Teams across the NBA can begin negotiating today with free agents, a large crop that includes a few big-impact players, a handful of potential starters and a truckload of role players.
The biggest names on the free-agent list are Ben Wallace (Detroit), Peja Stojakovic (Indiana), Al Harrington (Atlanta), Jason Terry (Dallas) and Bonzi Wells (Sacramento), which doesn't exactly make this a stellar class.
Only five teams -- Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Toronto and Charlotte -- will have enough room under the salary cap to make offers that go beyond the middle-class exception of $5.1 million. Teams over the salary cap can sign their own free agents to any amount.
Teams can't begin signing players until July 12.
The Magic will be focusing initially on Stevenson, their starting shooting guard who opted out of the final year of his previous contract to become a free agent. Stevenson was scheduled to make $3 million this season.
Although he has said he would like to continue playing in Orlando, where he has been the past 21/2 seasons, he wants to land a multiyear deal starting in the $5 million range.
It's about $2 million more than the Magic want to pay.
"We like DeShawn,'' Smith said. "We like him on our team and we want him back, but we're not going to spend money foolishly. He has to go out and establish his value, and if it's more than we're willing to pay, I'll shake his hand and wish him luck.''
Neither Smith nor Stevenson's agent, Rob Pelinka, would discuss terms, but it's clear where both sides will begin.
"There is going to be a lot of interest in DeShawn. He had a great season,'' Pelinka said. "And the Magic really developed some good chemistry late. Hopefully, they can keep that together. They can if they're willing to pay fair market value.''
Pelinka declined to talk specifics, but he said he believed Stevenson should be compared to other shooting guards like Raja Bell ($4.5 million in Phoenix), Ricky Davis ($6.3 million in Minnesota), Marquis Daniels ($5.8 million in Dallas) and Shane Battier ($5.3 million in Houston).
"It was a no-brainer for him to opt out of his contract. It was time for him to look at his options,'' Pelinka said. "He's young, athletic and skilled. This is a good time for him.''
Helping Stevenson's case is the lack of good young guards available in free agency. Before next season begins, Wells will be 30 and Terry 29. Bobby Jackson is 33. Mike James is 31.
The Magic still would like Stevenson, 25, to be in their lineup, but they drafted shooting guard J.J. Re from Duke earlier this week. They also are hoping that no one else offers Stevenson that $5 million salary.
He averaged 11 points last season, giving the Magic consistency in all 82 games but not the outside shooting they need. Stevenson shot 46 percent, but he made only two 3-point shots all season.
The Magic also are hoping to retain guard/forward Trevor Ariza, although at a significantly reduced cost. Ariza, who came from New York in the trade of Steve Francis, is a restricted free agent, which gives the Magic the right to match and sign him for any offer he receives.
Wallace is likely to receive the biggest contract of any free agent. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA le.
The Bulls, who might be only a center away from being a serious contender, are expected to make a big-money offer. The Pistons are reportedly set to make him a four-year offer starting at $12 million.
If Wallace stays in Detroit, as expected, the Bulls will try to land Joel Pryzbilla of Portland, the second-best center available. Harrington and Stojakovic will command salaries in the $8 million to $10 million range.
, Rick Rickert -- Detroit
