Tyreke Evans Offered Lucrative 4-Year Contract By the New Orleans Pelicans

Could this be the end of Tyreke Evans' time in Sacramento?

The New Orleans Pelicans are seriously interested in bringing Evans and his sidestep to the Big Easy. Per Sam Amick:

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I've been told 4 years, approx $48 million on Evans' offer. @daldridgetnt has it at $44 million. Either way, doubt Kings would match either.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 1, 2013

 

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Evans is a restricted free agent, so the Sacramento Kings still have a shot at keeping him, all they have to do is match that offer. One would think Evans is worth in the neighborhood of $12 million per year. If he was offered that after that Rookie of the Year campaign in which he averaged 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, sure. 

But his scoring average has gone down every year since then, as has his rebounding and assist averages. He did, however, average a career-high .478 shooting percentage last season. 

But the most important statistic involving Evans is not individual; It's how many games the team has won each season. In his rookie season in 2009-10, the Kings won 25 games. The next season Sacramento saw 24 victories. In 2011-12 the Kings won just 22 games and last season the win total got to 28. 

So if we take into account all of his seasons, Evans has been involved with little improvement within the team. Yes, the Kings haven't had a stable head coaching situation as Paul Westphal lost control of the team and Keith Smart being Keith Smart. Evans' position was in constant change as well, as he played as the point guard, shooting guard and small forward. 

He also hasn't been completely healthy as various injuries have thrown a wrench into the wheels of his basketball career. 

It should be established that he hasn't had the greatest chance to succeed in a stable environment.

But with new ownership comes a new era. The Kings should move on. Evans' presence on the team hasn't brought a lot of success these past four years. It just hasn't worked. 

A partnership between Evans and Ben McLemore, the seventh pick in the 2013 NBA draft, could be great. Evans is great at slashing and McLemore could find himself open more often than not beyond the three-point line, waiting for Evans to find him. But does the team want Evans back for a fifth year? They already know what they're getting from him, but do they believe that's worth $12 million per season?

If the Kings decide not to match New Orleans' offer, it'll be the end of four years of highlights, but not much winning. It won't necessarily be a surprise, either, with the new ownership group. 

Only time will tell what happens.