So who’s next, Karl Malone?
The Nets have reached an agreement with DeShawn Stevenson and will sign the veteran 6-5 shooting guard to a one-year contract today. Stevenson is a tough, hard-nosed defensive type who will be a good piece for any three-guard alignments the Nets use.
“It’s a great fit. He chose the Nets for a lot of reasons,” Stevenson’s agent Mark Bartelstein said. “He embodies everything Avery Johnson preaches. He plays with great energy and passion and knows his game starts on the defensive end. And in the Finals, he showed he can hit a big shot. I think if you’re in the East, facing LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Joe Johnson, to have a guy like DeShawn in your backcourt is critical.
“And DeShawn fits into (GM) Billy King’s vision for the team,” continued Bartelstein. “Billy and Avery share the same outlook for the types of players they want and for where they want their team to go.”
Stevenson was scheduled to fly from Orlando Thursday to finalize his one-year, $2.5 million deal, which was completed this morning. In a related move, the Nets waived wing Stephen Graham whose contract had to be guaranteed by Saturday, Christmas Eve.
Stevenson also continues the Nets apparent attempt to become Utah East. Stevenson originally was drafted out of high school by the Jazz in 2000 and has spent 11 years in the NBA, having also played for Orlando, Washington and Dallas where he won a ring last year. The Nets already have a host of players with Jazz connections: Deron Williams, Kris Humphries and Sundiata Gaines. And Andrei Kirilenko remains in the blueprint.