Keith Bogans to sign with Magic..

[Kings113]

The Orlando Magic, in their search to settle their shooting-guard quandary, said goodbye to DeShawn Stevenson and welcomed back Keith Bogans.

The Sentinel learned today that the Magic were finalizing a three-year contract with Bogans after halting negotiations with Stevenson.

Stevenson and the Magic were at an impasse over the length of a contract.

Stevenson, who averaged 11 points and started all 82 games for the Magic last season, wanted a four-year contract at least $4 million year.

The Magic refused to budge at three years, ending Stevenson's two-plus year stay in Orlando. Stevenson's agent, Rob Pelinka, told the Sentinel recently that Stevenson had at least two contract offers on the table that were better than the Magic's.

Stevenson, 25, had one year at $3 million left on his deal, but opted out of his contract this summer.

The Magic believe they are getting a similar 6-foot-5, defensive-minded player at half the price in Bogans, who they acquired in the second round in the 2003 draft from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bogans, 25, averaged 6.8 points for the Magic in 2003-04. But the club traded him to the Charlotte Bobcats for forward Brandon Hunter before the start of the 2004 season.

Bogans and Stevenson were teammates, the Magic having acquired Stevenson for Gordon Giricek in February of 2004.

Bogans was traded by the Bobcats to the Houston Rockets after 39 games last season. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season for the Rockets.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...k-bogans071306,0,2126104.story?coll=orl-magic

So, Magic get their SG. Bogans a similar player to Stevenson, just not as good a scorer or as athletic, but both are solid defenders and strong at 6'5". Figured they would of kept chasing Rasual Butler or get Kareem Rush. But, Bogans is a decent wing player for their team.

Wonder where DeShawn ends up now..

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Stevenson may be a good fit for Denver. Denver's looking for a 2 guard and I have always thought that Deshawn had all the tools to become a solid 14-16 ppg guy in the league. He's got a decent jumper that tends to be streaky at times, but when he gets it going he can be a dangerous weapon.

 

[Kings113]

Not a good three point shooter, but he's a good mid-range shooter, yeah. They need perimeter defense with or without Buckner as well, so would also fill in there. Two of the many holes and questions the Nuggets have.

 

[Kings113]

I'd say this could be the end of Dooling in Orlando... Bogans/Redick/Nelson/Arroyo/Diener. If we didn't have Douby I'd say trade one of our expirings for him. I've come to like Dooling the last few years, fun player.

 

[Bricklayer]

a) Stevensen pretty much sucks. He is basically as low as you go go and still be a starter in this league 11.0pts 2.9rebs 2.0ast 0.7stl 0.2blk in 32min? What exactly DOES he do? Because its not score, rebound, pass or defend. He's good for a nice dunk every other game, but there's no meat there.

b) That said, if the Magic "have found their shooting guard" in Keith Bogans, they are in deep doodoo, because he's just a roleplayer of the Ira Newble class, and the very last thing he can actually do is shoot. I'm guessing they are banking on Redick to step up and fill that spot, but JJ was one of those shaky draft picks where he was just the biggest name remainaing, but maybe not he best built for the NBA. In any case, as much as I liked their aggression and vision last year, looks like they may very well enter next season still with a hoile at the 2.

 

[Kings113]

DeShawn doesn't stick out in one particular area of the game, he can do a little bit of everything. But he's improved his game from previous years. Especially on defense, where he's become a sound defender, and has taken threes out of his main offense and has stuck to taking mid-range jumpers and slashing. Which is what he does consistently well. Can handle the ball as well. He's not good or bad, he's an above average/decent swingman.

Bogans is a better shooter than DeShawn from three point range, which isn't saying too much, better rebounder, both can defend well. But Bogans isn't as good a scorer overall, and not as athletic. I think he fits fine with their team, given who they have around him and a team on the rise. Also they didn't have a swingman perimeter defender outside of Ariza, who doesn't start, and is a restricted free-agent right now.

Being a Magic watcher, I'm fine with the move. Just reading over at the Magic real gm board, basically everyone digs the move also.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=543949

 

[SacTownKid]

a) Stevensen pretty much sucks. He is basically as low as you go go and still be a starter in this league 11.0pts 2.9rebs 2.0ast 0.7stl 0.2blk in 32min? What exactly DOES he do? Because its not score, rebound, pass or defend. He's good for a nice dunk every other game, but there's no meat there.

b) That said, if the Magic "have found their shooting guard" in Keith Bogans, they are in deep doodoo, because he's just a roleplayer of the Ira Newble class, and the very last thing he can actually do is shoot. I'm guessing they are banking on Redick to step up and fill that spot, but JJ was one of those shaky draft picks where he was just the biggest name remainaing, but maybe not he best built for the NBA. In any case, as much as I liked their aggression and vision last year, looks like they may very well enter next season still with a hoile at the 2.

All that needs to be said on the matter.