Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Sacramento Kings have a couple of key picks in the 2013 NBA Draft today, but on Wednesday the team showed that it wants to keep some of its stars, including 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans.
The Kings announced that Evans was given a one-year qualifying offer which makes him a restricted free agent. That means the team can match any offer sheet that he receives from other teams. It’s likely that other teams will make a bid for Evans, and that’s why Sacramento made its move.
It also gives Evans a chance to try to improve his career after some recent disappointing seasons. The Kings have many players that have underachieved in past seasons, and Evans is at the top of that list. He needs to find his game again and prove he can play as well, if not better than he did his rookie season.
Last season, Evans averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, along with 31.0 minutes. He shot 47.8 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent in threes and 77.5 percent in free throws.
But as a rookie, Evans was at 37.2 minutes, 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. The following year, he was at 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. In just one season, he started showing signs of a decline.
His numbers haven’t been the same since he was a rookie. If Evans can get back to improving those totals, his value increases.
Michael Malone, the new Kings coach has several issues to work on which includes Evans. If Evans plays like a rookie again, the Kings will be dangerous.
