Orlando Magic: 4 potential free agency targets in 2018
By Chris Murch
2. Tyreke Evans
2017-18 Stats: 19.4 PPG, 5.2 APG, 5.1 RPG
Fun fact, only three players in the league this year averaged 19 points, five assists and five rebounds per game while shooting at least 39 percent from 3: Stephen Curry (duh), Kevin Durant (duh) and…Tyreke Evans?
Yes, the former NBA Rookie of the Year had himself quite the year last year for the Memphis Grizzlies and in a contract year, he put himself in position for a great contract this offseason.
Evans is a player who can do everything and has really shown that he is a true point guard in recent years. His passing ability has improved, his shooting has gone up, he has the build to bang inside and guard bigger players and has what the Magic don’t — experience.
Evans is an unrestricted free agent and was on a deal last year that only paid him $3.3 million. He will want more moving forward, but will still be cheap in such a tight market. If Orlando offered its full MLE, he’d have to at least think about it, even if he’s currently being wooed by the Indiana Pacers:
Free agent guard Tyreke Evans traveled to meet with the Indiana Pacers today, league sources tell ESPN. There’s interest on both sides to get a deal done, but still work to do on it.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2018
Evans would bring seniority and leadership for a young Magic team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in six years. Him coming off a pick-and-roll at the top of the key with Mohamed Bamba and catching him at the rim with an alley-oop is easy to envision. That’d be one roller coaster ride worth watching.