Another year, another bad season for the Sacramento Kings.
They are the second worst team in the Westen Conference, their owners still probably want to leave the city and, now, a guy who a season ago was thought to be a franchise corner stone is eligible for a contract extension. And it does not look like the Kings are ready to committ long term and Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee writes the team will even entertain trade offers for the former Rookie of the Year.
“Evans remains a major asset. His team remains in a major funk. When a franchise finishes near the conference cellar for six consecutive seasons, the general manager needs to make significant personnel changes, or the franchise needs to change its general manager.”
Voisin adds that Evans’ game is obviously not without faults. He stands around too much (something Evans himself admits he needs to work on), needs a consistent mid-range jumper and generally speaking needs to learn to play off the ball. He played point his rookie year and handled the ball a ton last season, so playing small forward this season has been an adjustment for Evans.
His numbers are down in almost every statistical category. Part of that has to do with his new role, part of that has to do with the fact that his team is composed of a bunch of chuckers along the perimeter, part of it is a lack of development and part of it is due to the emergence of both DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas.
The lack of development is not completely his fault, it never is in Sacramento.
From Jason Thompson to Evans to Spencer Hawes, players just do not develop in Sacramento like everyone thinks they might or should (Cousins being the exception and the jury is out on Jimmer).
The reason is, despite their presence courtside at almost every Kings home game, the Maloof Brothers are the anti-Mark Cuban. They do not like spending money and when they do they do not spend it well.
They also do not hold anyone accountable. How many years do they have to absolutely stink before general manager Geoff Petrie is shown the door?
Tyreke Evans is a really talented player. Living in Sacramento, I am always blown away by what a specimen he is and how unstoppable he can be when he is engaged and aggressive. It is just not there consistently.
Priority number one for the Kings and Evans this summer is to figure out how this marriage will work. Should they trade him (and at this point what is his trade value)? Is he a small forward, a shooting guard or a point guard? If Keith Smart, who the Kings players all seem to really enjoy playing for, can figure out Evans’ role he is definitely worth keeping around.
For my money, he is a shooting guard. Starting Thomas, Marcus Thorton and Tyreke at the point, two guard and small forward makes this team woefully small. Pair Evans in the back court with Isaiah Thomas and you might have something.
If you trade him, well no doubt there will be some teams willing to take Evans, but will the Kings want what the other teams are selling?
