Pelicans Make Offer To Tyreke Evans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The New Orleans Pelicans have made an offer to Sacramento Kings restricted free agent guard Tyreke Evans, two people familiar with the situation said Monday.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the offer was supposed to remain private. Several media outlets reported the deal was for four years and ranging between $40 million and $48 million.
Because he's a restricted free agent, the Kings will have the opportunity to match any offers Evans signs. Contracts can't be inked until July 10, after next season's salary cap is set.
It's unclear if Sacramento would match such a lucrative offer. New Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro and other team executives planned to meet with Evans and his agent, Arn Tellem, in the Los Angeles area.
Sacramento seemed to start making preparations for Evans' departure when it selected Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore seventh overall in last week's draft. The Kings also took Detroit point guard Ray McCallum with the No. 36 pick.
Evans was drafted fourth overall out of Memphis in 2009 and won the NBA Rookie of the Year that season, but he has been set back by various knee and foot injuries and struggled to adjust to former coach Keith Smart's style. When healthy and unleashed, he's still one of the league's most lethal scorers.
Evans is averaging 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 257 games over four seasons with the Kings. He averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 65 games last season.
What role Evans would have with New Orleans remains unclear. He played point guard his first two seasons in Sacramento, slid to shooting guard and even played some of last season at small forward - a position he felt didn't suit his strengths.
The Pelicans backcourt, as of now, would be somewhat crowded. They acquired All-Star guard Jrue Holiday in a draft night trade with Philadelphia last week, and point guard Greivis Vasquez and shooting guard Eric Gordon are still on the roster.
A sign-and-trade deal is also possible.
AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed.
