Lakers Rumors: Tyreke Evans Is Last Thing LA Needs Right Now

Tyreke Evans would fit with the Los Angeles Lakers like ketchup does on ice cream.

Not at all.

According to the latest rumors, Evans has been linked to L.A. as a solution to the team’s nightmare start to what was supposed to be a magical 2012-2013 campaign. But if the Lakers were to trade for the Sacramento Kings wing, they’d regret it.

Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee reported Los Angeles has “long been intrigued” by Evans and that the combo guard said when asked if he’s been cautious about returning from injury given that he’s due to become a free agent this summer:

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Definitely. That's why I sat out so many games. I wasn't going to come back until I was ready, near 100 percent. You have to think about that. But the knee feels good now, it doesn't hurt. I just want to get back out there and start playing like I can.

"

Evans sure doesn’t sound devoted to the Kings in the long term, so a deadline deal wouldn't be surprising. But even if the Lakers are able to offer Sac-Town a satisfying package, they shouldn’t.

Los Angeles’ greatest weakness by far is chemistry. ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford recently wrote of its struggles:

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My inclination, based on some conversations with those around the team, is to blame Kobe. He's struggled to change his game to fit with Howard and Nash. But given the disaster, I think there's enough blame to go around from front office, to coaching to even Nash, Gasol and Howard. These guys are all elite players. Basketball is a team game. They really need a collaboration expert to come in and work with them. They lack the trust they need to really work together.

"

Evans wouldn’t fix that. If anything, he’d amplify the Lakers’ issues.

The former Rookie of the Year not only needs the ball in his hands to succeed, but he’s only an efficient scorer in the paint.

According to 82games.com, over half of Evans’ shot attempts are jumpers, he only makes 33 percent of them and only 33 percent of the ones that he hits are assisted. For comparison’s sake, Metta World Peace, who was a downright awful shooter last season, made 38 percent of his Js. And Kobe, who’s perceived as a ball hog, has an assisted percentage of just one percent less than Evans overall this season, but 40 percent of his jump shots are assisted.

What does that mean?

Essentially, Evans is a ball hog who can’t shoot Js. And unless such a player is the go-to guy on the floor, that’s never a good combination.

L.A. has four stars in Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. There aren’t enough balls to go around already. If Mitch Kupchak were to trade for Evans, the Lakers chemistry would only worsen, even if Gasol was shipped cross state as part of the deal.

With a record of 15-20, Los Angeles needs to make an adjustment sooner rather than later, but trading for Evans is the wrong adjustment.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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