Pelicans to bring Tyreke Evans off of the bench

Sep 30, 2013; Metairie, LA, USA; Sports photographer Gerald Herbert photographs New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tyreke Evans (1) during media day at the Pelicans Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

A large contingent of NBA teams held their annual media day on Monday. One of the most intriguing team to hold their media session Monday was the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pelicans made a big spalsh in the offseason, trading for Philadelphia 76ers all star point guard Jrue Holiday and Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans.

With shooting guard Eric Gordon in the fold, many pundits wondered just how Evans would be used. Throughout the summer, Evans told everyone who asked that he would be fine with coming off of the bench.

According to John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and NOLA.com, that’s exactly how Pelicans head coach Monty Williams plans to use him (H/T to Pro Basketball Talk).

Last year in Evans’ fourth NBA season, he averaged a career-low 15.2 points, 4.4 rebound, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Despite that reduction in numbers, he was actually more efficient. The fourth overall pick of the 2009 draft shot 47.8% from the field and 33.8% from beyond the arc, both career-highs.

The Pelicans acquired Evans in a sign-and-trade this offseason. They gave him a four-year, $44 million contract.

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