Tyreke Evans, the former Rookie of the Year and fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, has been reinstated by the league after serving a drug suspension in 2019.
Evans may begin negotiations with any team on Monday, but he must wait until next Friday to sign a contract.
It's improbable that any team will take a chance on him, but it's not impossible. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen some fascinating individuals return to the NBA, so there's no reason to believe that a former Rookie of the Year and a player who averaged 15.7 points per game during his career won't get another shot.
He was actually a fairly talented player before he was suspended from the league due to his drug use. Evans scored 19.4 points per game and shot 45.2% from the floor for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2017, the season before he was shelved by the NBA.
He appeared in 594 games over his career, also putting up 4.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 44% from the field. He wasn't a horrible player by any means, but he had some health concerns, and later, drug problems became an issue.
Let's look at two teams who could be interested in picking up Tyreke Evans and see if he has anything left in the tank.
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2. Sacramento Kings
If the Kings called Evans, it wouldn't be the strangest thing in the world. He played for the Kings for five seasons, and they were the team who drafted him in 2009. The Kings aren't in a position to contend right now, but if things go their way, they may make the NBA Playoffs. They're only a half-game outside of the play-in game right now, so anything could happen.
Given how shorthanded the Kings are at the guard position, it's possible that they'll take a chance and offer Evans a 10-day deal. Obviously, every team will want to work him out before signing him, but the Kings might be interested in getting him because he spent most of his career there.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Let's be honest, Lakers fans, this wouldn't be the most insane decision of the team in the last seven months. The Lakers have a history of making really questionable signings, so this may be another one to add to the list.
In all seriousness, Evans has the potential to be a decent fit for the Lakers. If he can still provide 10-plus points every game while being productive off the bench, it wouldn't be a terrible idea. There are certainly places where the Lakers can improve, and while Evans wouldn't be the ideal option, he might still be someone who can help them.
We have seen crazier things happen in Los Angeles, so don't be surprised if the team ever pursues this option. It probably wouldn't be the smartest move from the front office, but it isn't like the Lakers have made many smart moves in the past year.
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