After ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported a trade rumor surrounding Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans, there has been a lot of speculation about his possible trade destination. Wojnarowski reports, “Memphis wants to find a first-round pick for Tyreke Evans, but that is likely to prove difficult… As a rental on an expiring deal, it is hard to imagine Evans delivering that kind of a return.”
During a recent practice, Evans was asked about the topic. In the interview, courtesy of Ronald Tillery from The Commercial Appeal, Evans said:
“I know it's a business, I just gotta come and work, do what I do every day. I can't, that's not in my hands. So, whether they trade me or they keep me, I'm coming to work every day, work hard, and just get better.”
He also spoke briefly about how underrated he used to be, and how he can prove his value now that he is healthy.
Evans was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He spent four seasons with the Kings and was then sent to the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade that also included the Portland Trail Blazers. After an injury-riddled three and a half seasons in New Orleans, Evans was traded back to the Kings in the deal that brought DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans. He spent the rest of the 2016-17 season in Sacramento. Last summer, the 28-year-old signed a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Evans is having his best year since his rookie season, averaging 19.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 47.1 percent shooting from the field and 41.6 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
His contract does hold some value, as it pays him less than what he deserves for helping Marc Gasol keep the Grizzlies a little more relevant while Mike Conley recovers from an injury. The issue for other teams is trading for him would mean parting ways with at least a first-round pick and there is a chance Evans signs elsewhere when he hits free agency. The Grizzlies will probably end up trading him for whatever the best offer is because they do not have enough money to pay Evans anyway.
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