NBA Free Agency 2018: One signing every team should make

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Philadelphia 76ers — Tyreke Evans

The 76ers had interest in Evans at the trade deadline, but for whatever reason, the Grizzlies didn’t deal him. Particularly if the 76ers strike out on its big targets, Evans makes a lot of sense as a free agent signing, even if it ends only being on a one-year deal some other team friendly contract.

Philadelphia doesn’t necessarily need help with creation — Ben Simmons is going take on most of it, always, and they have other guards — but a little bit extra never hurts. And there’s certainly value in getting Simmons off ball as a cutter more, particularly if he doesn’t develop a jump shot.

Evans would also provide some support for Markelle Fultz in his second year. Fultz still has a long ways to go before he is a real NBA player and it’s unclear from the outside what exactly the 76ers should be expecting from him. If he can handle some creation next season, that would be a major win for the 76ers and having Evans is still smart. If he’s not, having Evans around is insurance and protection for a team that should have real ambitions in the Eastern Conference next season.

There are questions about Evans that any team should be vary of. Were his shooting numbers from last season, where he shot 39 percent on 5.5 attempts per game, real? Is he really healthy again after he had two seasons disrupted by knee issues? And is he willing to take a shorter deal, the type the 76ers would be likely to offer him?

He won’t be the 76ers’ top choice, but Evans would it in well.

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