NBA Free Agency Rumors: Kings Won’t Match Tyreke Evans Offer From Pelicans
By Mike Dyce
The New Orleans Pelicans offered Sacramento Kings restricted free agent Tyreke Evans a four-year $44 million deal. Evans, and all free agents restricted or not, cannot sign till July 10th. If Evans signs the Pelicans offer on July 10th the Sacramento Kings will have 3 days to match the offer or lose Evans without compensation.
The Kings could also try to work out a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans for Evans.
Evans had hoped he’d get a long term deal from the Kings but Sacramento only gave Evans a qualifying offer of 1 year at $6.9 million. Evans was seeking a mult-year deal around $10 million a season from the Kings.
He’s been moved around the court from point guard to small forward to shooting guard and his production has declined each season. Last season he averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 minutes per game.
The Sacramento Bee says it’s unlikely the Kings keep Tyreke Evans:
"It wasn’t that Evans wasn’t important, but Malone pointed out when he was hired that Cousins was the player who should be the “cornerstone” of the team.The Pelicans, however, made it clear Evans was a priority by meeting with him shortly after free agency officially began Sunday night.It’s unlikely the Kings would match such a huge offer to Evans, especially after they drafted two guards last week."