Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Trades: 5 Players In Need Of A Change Of Scenery

By Gerald Bourguet

December 30, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 30, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) dunks the basketball against Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NBA Trades
Dec 23, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) handles the ball defended by Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans won 91-87. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tyreke Evans

There are plenty of reasons Tyreke Evans won’t be traded before the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline. He’s only got one year left on his contract, which means he could very easily be a two- or three-month rental, and the New Orleans Pelicans need all the help they can get in their desperate playoff chase.

Evans’ value has never been lower either, after missing 57 games due to injury last season and all but seven games so far in 2016-17. He’s currently averaging only 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range — a far cry from the 17-7-5 stat line he put up just two seasons ago.

With Evans currently on a minutes restriction of 18 per game, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to boost his trade value in the next month and a half. If he does, however, his $10.2 million deal wouldn’t be impossible to move, especially to a playoff team seeking extra playmaking and versatility off the bench.

The return is where it gets tricky, since the Pellies would be looking for something to help them in their own pursuit of a playoff spot — something teams trading for Evans would obviously avoid surrendering since they’d be trading for him for the same reason. But with the playoff picture so knotted in the East and at the bottom of the West, it wouldn’t be impossible if Evans can prove he’s not washed up.

Just last season, ‘Reke shot 38.8 percent from three-point range and put up a 15-7-5 stat line. He’s never panned out as the star everyone thought he’d be after his 20-5-5 rookie season in Sacramento, but if he can shake off the rust over the next few weeks, he could be worth a gamble for the right playoff team.