Five Upcoming Free Agents For The Phoenix Suns To Target

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Tyreke Evans Phoenix Suns (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Tyreke Evans

The offseason after the Memphis Grizzlies held out for a first round pick (and miss out on actually getting assets), Tyreke Evans went on to sign a $12 million contract with the Indiana Pacers.

Evans has inexplicably collapsed on the court since signing that one-year deal.

The 29-year-old guard’s sudden discovery of a 3-point shot disappeared as quickly as it showed up. He can’t seem to make a layup, shooting by far the lowest percentage from two in his career.

Evans is your typical case of a contract year player, and somehow isn’t at the same time. He rode a career year to $12 million. Half a year later, he’s on track to the just over $3 million that brought him to Memphis in 2017.

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Short of negligent management, Evans won’t be signing a contract above $10 million per year this offseason. His precipitous drop in production has him pegged as more of a flier than anything else.

And here’s where James Jones can step in and make his mark, as small a mark as Tyreke Evans legitimizes.

I’m always a big fan of the buy low opportunity. The Grizzlies did this with Evans in 2017 when signing him to a bargain of a deal. They took a chance on the former number four overall pick and could’ve netted two second round picks as a result.

Now, Evans is coming off a nightmare of a year. Substitute the Suns in for the Grizzlies, and Phoenix could capitalize.

The current Pacer thrived in a point guard role for the Grizzlies in 2017. Evans could make a difference with a clear opening there. On a similar contract to the one he signed in Memphis wouldn’t be damning for this organization.

Evans could realistically come in, take over the one, and thrive yet again at a bargain of a price. If that happens, he becomes a valuable trade chip or someone that drives winning at a low price.

If not, he was a flier in the first place. James Jones doesn’t have to invest much into him.

This is a perfect low risk, high reward (in the form of a 3.6 box plus/minus) free agent.

Unlike Evans, the following offseason piece may be hitting his peak at age 29, a dangerous option off a contract year.

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