FL Today: Magic Pick up bargain

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Bogans signs 3 yrs for $8 million. Stevenson held firm for 4 yrs $16 million. Good luck to him.

More good news on the decision in the article:

And by refusing to meet Stevenson's financial demands, the Magic have plenty of money to retain restricted free agent Trevor Ariza this summer and also still be major players in free agency after next season. Orlando expects to have approximately $12 million to spend next summer on a free-agent class that could include Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis and Josh Howard.

Bogans on Bogans:

"My job is going to be to bring energy, mainly on the defensive end," Bogans said. "My thing is to play defense . . . that's what I do. That's what I have done since I've been in the league. So I plan on bringing that spark defensively."

More insight from Otis. He is counting on Grant Hill playing SG next year, and has replaced Darko with Turk when talking about his core 3 players. He must be privately seething over Milicic not showing for summer league play.

Smith isn't concerned about upsetting the chemistry that formed after Steve Francis was traded away last season. Grant Hill, finally healthy after suffering through a sports hernia last season, will spend major minutes this season at shooting guard, as will Redick and Bogans.

"I worry about it from the sense of who we add and who is Keith Bogans and can he fit into a role?" Smith said. "I think he can, so it won't be a matter of upsetting any chemistry. Our team is going to be built around our core guys -- Dwight, Jameer and Turk -- so I don't see chemistry being an issue.

Update: Stevenson is pissed at the Magic. (scroll down past all the praise for Diener) He probably should be angry at his agent for misleading him about his value to the Magic.

Reached in Miami late Thursday, Stevenson admitted that he was devastated by the Magic's unwillingness to work with him on a new contract. He said the Magic's refusal to budge -- their top offer was $10 million over three years -- was particularly galling.

"I didn't want to leave because I felt I worked my way up there, going from the gutter to being a starter,'' Stevenson said. "For it to all happen like that, it's really frustrating.

"I really wanted to get the situation in Orlando done. Obviously they thought I was replaceable. It's just frustrating to me because I wanted to play with Jameer Nelson, Keyon Dooling and Dwight Howard and now I'm not going to get that chance. It just [stinks] because I was a good guy who did everything I was supposed to do.''

Stevenson said he has four or five teams interested in signing him, but no concrete deal just yet. One of those teams could possibly be Miami, where he was visiting on the day he officially broke ties with the Magic.

I'm sure Miami can use him, they are really weak at SG and could use a new starter...