http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12968383p-13815489c.html
Finally, ball is in Evans' court
The free agent says he likes the Kings but is looking at all his options.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, May 28, 2005
He swears there's nothing to it.
Maurice Evans, the Kings guard-turned-free agent this offseason, is buying a house in San Antonio, which he insists has more to do with his love for Texas than any potential future with the Spurs. He's in Los Angeles this week to visit a friend, with no plans of chatting with the Lakers or Clippers while he's there. And for now, his Sacramento apartment remains home.
The point, though, is that Evans has the NBA world wondering where he'll go, a powerful position toward which he spent the last four years working.
His 2004-05 Kings season was his first of any significance in the league, a long ways come for the explosive talent who went undrafted out of Texas in 2001, then played everywhere from Italy to Greece to Russia on his roundabout path to legitimacy.
"There's a lot of opportunity out there now, and I still don't know what's going to happen," said Evans, whose official rookie season constituted 10 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2001-02. "I feel like this is the year where I really make an impact on someone's team. I'm so excited that I haven't even taken time off, just been working on things for next year."
Evans is looking for a substantial raise from the $620,046 he received as a reserve shooting guard. His next paycheck could come from Sacramento, which he said remains as attractive a locale as any, or elsewhere.
The possible departure of starting guard Cuttino Mobley, who has said he plans to opt out of his contract, could make Evans an even higher Kings priority.
Yet those, as Evans said, are affairs for the agent and executive types to worry about. Evans is busy enjoying an offseason with little break from hoops, whether he's playing it or talking about it. Evans has become a part-time radio personality as an ESPN analyst. Off the air, his strongest opinions were regarding the Kings and their topsy-turvy season that ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.
"We were way too talented to exit that early in the playoffs, even given the injuries, the trades and all the things we hid behind to make us feel better about our situation," Evans said. "We didn't accomplish the things we set out to do."
The trades of Chris Webber and Doug Christie created a revolving door to the locker room, and Evans said the new crew never fully meshed on or off the court.
"You look at Phoenix, and you see how unselfish (point guard) Steve Nash is at delivering the ball. I don't feel like we made everybody a threat," he said. "Certain players dominated the ball on our team, and I think that's easy (for opposing defenses) to stop if they know where the production's coming from.
"I don't feel like the locker room had the togetherness we should've had. Look at Phoenix, San Antonio, and how much they enjoy being around each other. We didn't have that this year."
As for the season to come, Evans still sees promise in Sacramento, with a few more additions needed to return the Kings to contender status. He thinks he should be one of the add-ons.
"I'm excited about the opportunity of coming back, because I love the fans, the city, the atmosphere," Evans said. "Hopefully (the Kings) feel the same way."
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said Evans left a favorable impression. "He certainly established that he can play in the league," Petrie said, refusing to comment on how high a priority it is to re-sign Evans. "He had a lot of productive moments for us."
Finally, ball is in Evans' court
The free agent says he likes the Kings but is looking at all his options.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, May 28, 2005
He swears there's nothing to it.
Maurice Evans, the Kings guard-turned-free agent this offseason, is buying a house in San Antonio, which he insists has more to do with his love for Texas than any potential future with the Spurs. He's in Los Angeles this week to visit a friend, with no plans of chatting with the Lakers or Clippers while he's there. And for now, his Sacramento apartment remains home.
The point, though, is that Evans has the NBA world wondering where he'll go, a powerful position toward which he spent the last four years working.
His 2004-05 Kings season was his first of any significance in the league, a long ways come for the explosive talent who went undrafted out of Texas in 2001, then played everywhere from Italy to Greece to Russia on his roundabout path to legitimacy.
"There's a lot of opportunity out there now, and I still don't know what's going to happen," said Evans, whose official rookie season constituted 10 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2001-02. "I feel like this is the year where I really make an impact on someone's team. I'm so excited that I haven't even taken time off, just been working on things for next year."
Evans is looking for a substantial raise from the $620,046 he received as a reserve shooting guard. His next paycheck could come from Sacramento, which he said remains as attractive a locale as any, or elsewhere.
The possible departure of starting guard Cuttino Mobley, who has said he plans to opt out of his contract, could make Evans an even higher Kings priority.
Yet those, as Evans said, are affairs for the agent and executive types to worry about. Evans is busy enjoying an offseason with little break from hoops, whether he's playing it or talking about it. Evans has become a part-time radio personality as an ESPN analyst. Off the air, his strongest opinions were regarding the Kings and their topsy-turvy season that ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.
"We were way too talented to exit that early in the playoffs, even given the injuries, the trades and all the things we hid behind to make us feel better about our situation," Evans said. "We didn't accomplish the things we set out to do."
The trades of Chris Webber and Doug Christie created a revolving door to the locker room, and Evans said the new crew never fully meshed on or off the court.
"You look at Phoenix, and you see how unselfish (point guard) Steve Nash is at delivering the ball. I don't feel like we made everybody a threat," he said. "Certain players dominated the ball on our team, and I think that's easy (for opposing defenses) to stop if they know where the production's coming from.
"I don't feel like the locker room had the togetherness we should've had. Look at Phoenix, San Antonio, and how much they enjoy being around each other. We didn't have that this year."
As for the season to come, Evans still sees promise in Sacramento, with a few more additions needed to return the Kings to contender status. He thinks he should be one of the add-ons.
"I'm excited about the opportunity of coming back, because I love the fans, the city, the atmosphere," Evans said. "Hopefully (the Kings) feel the same way."
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said Evans left a favorable impression. "He certainly established that he can play in the league," Petrie said, refusing to comment on how high a priority it is to re-sign Evans. "He had a lot of productive moments for us."
