Tyreke Evans Would Be a Poor Signing for New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans shocked the world by offering restricted free agent Tyreke Evans four years and $44 million on Sunday night, per Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.

While some seem to think it can work in New Orleans, I don't think it works on multiple levels.

First, those who suggest that Evans can play small forward alongside Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon don't realize he doesn't play well at small forward.

According to 82games.com, Evans registered a worse PER at small forward last season (16.6) than he did at point guard or shooting guard.

Secondly, even if you slot Evans in at shooting guard because Gordon is injury-prone and Austin Rivers, well, doesn't count, Evans has never shown throughout his career that he works best at shooting guard.

According to 82games.com, he registered a PER of 18.8 at shooting guard last season. By comparison, when Evans averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his rookie season, he played a career-high 28 percent of his minutes at point guard, registering a PER of 22.2 at the position in the process.

So, truly, Evans is a point guard or a sixth man, and you don't pay $44 million for a sixth man unless he's really, really good. Considering the Pelicans have Holiday and Greivis Vasquez at point, Evans doesn't make sense at point, at least for now.

In short, the Pelicans' offer to Evans makes them look like an ill-informed team, just when you start to see promise in them. Fans are right to be shocked, especially those in New Orleans. The money offered to Evans could be spent much better this summer. 

Pelicans fans better hope Evans doesn't sign with the team. It could mark another step backward for a franchise attempting to rise.