Report: Why Kings won’t bring back Evans on hardship contract originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Tyreke Evans could have been an intriguing addition for the Kings amid the organization’s COVID-19 issues, but the former Rookie of the Year reportedly won’t be among those brought in on a hardship waiver to replace an active player who enters the NBA’s health and safety protocol.
A return to the Kings or any other NBA team is “not yet possible,” The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson reported Wednesday citing league sources.
“Evans, 32, has not been cleared to return to the NBA and still faces a lengthy process before he can be reinstated, the source said, suggesting Evans will not be available as teams scramble to sign replacement players during the league’s current outbreak,” Anderson wrote.
Evans’ last NBA action came in 2019 with the Indiana Pacers, before he was banned for violating the league’s anti-drug program. Evans became eligible for reinstatement this year, but apparently has not gotten approval from the league to return to a roster.
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The No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Evans averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds for the Kings as he beat out phenoms like Steph Curry, Brandon Jennings and Darren Collison for Rookie of the Year honors.
The Kings could use some wing depth on the court, and already have used hardship waivers to sign Emmanuel Mudiay, Ade Murkey and Justin Robinson to 10-day contracts as a number of players remain in health and safety protocol. Going into Wednesday night’s game at Golden 1 Center against the Los Angeles Clippers, De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, Louis King, Terence Davis, Marvin Bagley III, Alex Len and Neemias Queta will be out due to COVID-19 protocol, per Anderson.
We could see other players come in as more and more guys get added to health and safety protocol, but it appears Evans will not be one of them, at least in the short-term.