Tyreke Evans Offered $44 Million By the New Orleans Pelicans

Restricted free agent guard Tyreke Evans is headed for a big payday this summer. The New Orleans Pelicans set the market for ‘Reke, offering him a whopping $44 million over four seasons. It remains to be seen if the Sacramento Kings will match the offer. Per the Sac Bee: “Principal owner Vivek Ranadive, general manager Pete D’Alessandro and coach Michael Malone quickly exited Monday’s news conference for rookie guards Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum to meet with restricted free agent Tyreke Evans, who soon could leave Sacramento for a lucrative contract. The Kings also met Monday with prized small forward Andre Iguodala. Sunday night, the New Orleans Pelicans met with Evans in Los Angeles and presented an offer sheet for four years worth at least $44 million, said a source familiar with the negotiations. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the individual was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation. Restricted free agents cannot sign any team’s offer sheet before July 10. The Kings could match the Pelicans’ offer to Evans or try to work out a sign-and-trade deal with New Orleans. Pelicans point guard Greivis Vasquez and center Robin Lopez could be parts of a trade. If Evans signs the offer sheet on July 10, the Kings will have three days to match the offer or lose Evans without compensation. Evans was seeking a multiyear offer from the Kings. But before meeting with Sacramento officials Monday, he had received only a one-year, $6.9 million qualifying offer from the Kings. Evans’ scoring has declined each season since he won the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year award. He has gone from playing point guard to small forward to shooting guard. Last season, playing primarily shooting guard, Evans averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 minutes per game, all career lows. He did post career highs in field-goal (47.8) and three-point (33.8) percentage. But Evans sought at least $10 million annually in a deal similar to others from his 2009 draft class, such as the Warriors’ Stephen Curry.”