Fansided

NBA Free Agency 2018: 20 best players available

By Micah Wimmer

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 20
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: Tyreke Evans
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: Tyreke Evans /

18. Tyreke Evans

In 2010, Tyreke Evans, then on the Sacramento Kings, won Rookie of the Year, beating out fellow draftmates DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, and Stephen Curry, and his career kind of stalled out from there. He looked like a superstar in the making that rookie year, averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for the season, and while his shooting needed definite work, there was no reason to expect Evans to be anything but a very good player for a very long time. Of course, things didn’t quite work out that way due to a general lack of development in his abilities along with injuries that have limited him in recent seasons.

However, last season Evans regained the form that had so many excited about his potential eight years ago. He came just a handful of points away from averaging 20, 5, and 5 for the first time since his rookie year, while also displaying a much better, and consistent, shot than ever before. His 39 percent from 3 for the Grizzlies last season was the highest of his career, as was his effective field goal percentage of 52 percent. At 28, Evans is still in his prime and promises to have at least a few more seasons of quality play in him, especially considering his improvement as a shooter. If Evans can continue to show the same skills as he did last year, whatever team signs him will be getting a very good player who is good at not only finding his own shot, but at creating for others as well.

Home/NBA