Tyreke Evans Reinstated by NBA After 2019 Suspension for Drug Policy Violation

Veteran guard Tyreke Evans has officially been reinstated to the NBA after nearly three years away, the league announced Monday.

Evans tested positive for a prohibited substance under the league's anti-drug program in May 2019, causing him to be "dismissed and disqualified" from the NBA. He is now an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Evans is eligible to start negotiating with teams immediately and he will be able to sign a contract starting Friday at noon ET.

A 32-year-old combo guard, Evans began his NBA career in 2009 when the Sacramento Kings drafted him fourth overall. He's also played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers.

At the time of his suspension in 2019, Evans averaged 10.2 points in 20.3 minutes per game for the Pacers. It was a steep drop-off from the 19.4 points he averaged the year before with the Grizzlies.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Evans had been preparing for his reinstatement by working out with John Wall and Michael Beasley in Miami. Evans is expected to draw a lot of interest in the buyout market.

At 6'6", Evans is known for his scoring and his ability to take advantage of his size against smaller guards. However, he has never been a consistent outside shooter, as he has a career three-point percentage of 32.3. Evans is also a decent distributor, as he's averaged five or more assists six times.

Evans could find himself on a team in the thick of the playoff hunt, as multiple organizations are looking for a spark for the latter half of the NBA season.