KEY POINTS

  • Tyreke Evans has been allowed to play in the NBA almost three years removed from his suspension
  • The Lakers need help across the board and Evans might be a stopgap solution this season
  • Evans' ability to act as a second playmaker should convince the Lakers to take a flier on him

In a season marred by turmoil and disappointment for the Los Angeles Lakers, going after the recently-reinstated Tyreke Evans might spark a change in the struggling franchise.

The NBA announced that Evans, who was disqualified from playing the league in May 2019 due to testing positive for a banned substance, was welcomed back into the fold and would be eligible to sign with a team on Friday, February 18.

At the time of his suspension, the NBA landscape was just about to be rocked as the Lakers would be swinging a massive deal for then-New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis, which allowed him to pair up with LeBron James.

The Lakers would go on to win the NBA title in the 2019-20 season in the groundbreaking Orlando Bubble that set up the blueprint for other American sports leagues to follow in order to still have games despite the onslaught of the global pandemic.

The 32-year-old combo guard from Chester, Pennsylvania has had four stops in his NBA career and could now be going to his fifth team this coming Friday.

Evans took home the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year award as he used his unique blend of size and athleticism in order to drive down the paint and score with ease.

With the Lakers standing pat at the recently-concluded NBA trade deadline, going after Evans would not be so bad for a team that ranks 23rd in points per 100 possessions (109.7) and 17th in points allowed per 100 (111.5) according to subscription-based stats site Cleaning the Glass.

The Lakers clearly need some help across the board, and Evans provides a decent solution among the current crop of free agents.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Evans has been working out in Miami, Florida with Houston Rockets point guard John Wall and fellow free agent Michael Beasley to help him get back into playing form.

Evans’ prime years are certainly behind him, but his ability to act as a secondary playmaker (averaging 4.8 assists in his career) will help ease the load off of both James and Russell Westbrook.

James, being 37 years old already, will not allow the Lakers to give up on the season despite the difficulties and are still within shouting distance of securing a spot in the playoffs or the play-in tournament.

Whether the Lakers reach the playoffs or not, Evans is worth taking a flier on.

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