Jason Jones on Tyreke

[rainmaker]

For what it's worth...

The Kings certainly aren't acting like a team trying to trade Tyreke Evans.

Unlike last season when Evans spent much of the summer in Southern California working out, Evans has been in Sacramento working out with basketball president Geoff Petrie and other Kings staff.

Rumors persist involving Evans being traded, the latest being another proposed deal sending him to Houston that no one in our outside of the Kings has validated the proposed deal.

So, Evans is still a King that is working out with his boss.

Petrie is the man that would be trading Evans. Not that Petrie still couldn't decide to move Evans, but his personal involvement with Evans indicates he is invested in seeing Evans progress.

A lot of the work is on Evans' jump shot and working on the midrange game (jumpers, pull-up shots, floaters) that has been slow to develop in Evans' first three seasons.

I'm also told Evans is in good shape (no extended vacationing) and that he's making progress with his jump shot.

Of course, none of these developments matter in June, but it is progress.

Evans finished the season at small forward, but was never fully comfortable playing off the ball.

Privately, some within the Kings believe the move to small forward was a necessary step for Evans to reach his full potential.

The fact is Evans cannot play with the ball all the time. And in order to enhance Evans' view of the game, coach Keith Smart wanted Evans to see the game from a new perspective.

There were times where Evans was clearly unhappy about the move (almost always after he had a bad game).

How he handles it going forward will decide his future with the Kings, assuming he's not traded.

Evans is eligible for a contract extension but the Kings won't sign him to one, preferring to let this season play out.

And even after some struggles the last two seasons I'm told there are still as many as 11 teams that expressed interest in Evans, so he does have value.

Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/archives/2012/06/amid-rumors-tyr.html#storylink=cpy

I am hopeful Petrie will not trade Reke and I do like hearing they're consistently working together. Petrie is obviously invested in Reke's success. Also glad to hear Reke is working on his midrange game, with tear drops and floaters rather than his 3pt shot. I'd say it's more evidence he'll be back at a guard spot next year as those mid range shots come off the dribble, ala Rose/Westbrook/Parker/Wade, where you need the ball to attack, rather than playing off the ball as a small forward where deep perimeter shooting is more important.

Also, a reference to what Smart said in his last postgame interview, where he said Reke moving to SF was so he can see the floor from a different angle and learn from it, in order to have more success at PG in the future. Could be PG or SG, but the move to SF is looking more and more like it was temporary.


BTW, Ben Gordon was just traded to Char.

 

[cuad]

I laugh at how some are saying that Petrie working with Evans is proof that he won't be traded, when working with him personally might be just the thing that convinces Petrie that Evans isn't so untouchable.

 

[ParniValjak]

I have long maintained that trading Tyreke would be stupid on our part. He is easily our 2nd best and most talented player behind Cousins. Sure he has things that he really needs to work on but I am confident that he will develop into the perennial all-star type player for us.

Its a very smart move to work on his mid-range game and once he does get that down, then its easier to move that out to 3 point range. It is painfully clear to everyone that understands basketball what is the best way to use Tyreke and that most certainly is not at SF.

Petrie obviously has some invested interest in all this. This is his prized early pick and he is not the type of guy that jumps at shadows. He is slow to make a move, the fact that he is working with Tyreke suggests to me that he has no interest in trading him at this point.

I am confident that is how Petrie feels, Maloofs on the other hand I can't guarantee anything. The are the definition of irrational.

 

[rainmaker]

I laugh at how some are saying that Petrie working with Evans is proof that he won't be traded, when working with him personally might be just the thing that convinces Petrie that Evans isn't so untouchable.

Quit trolling. Seriously, unless you show me where someone said it was "proof".

I used the word "hopeful". Jason Jones said "Not that Petrie still couldn't decide to move Evans, but his personal involvement with Evans indicates he is invested in seeing Evans progress."

You keep mincing words and trying to invoke a reaction.

 

[roasthawg]

Good news imo.

 

[cuad]

I'm reading deeper than you. The sentence you quote is slanted. The way that J. Jones structures the sentence puts emphasis on the "investment in progress" part. The result is that most people, like you and Carolija, jump onto the "THIS MEANS HE WON"T TRADE TYREKE" band wagon. I see that and just want to bring balance back into this.

 

[mac]

I'm reading deeper than you. The sentence you quote is biased. You can tell by the order of the clauses. The not comes first, and the but comes after. The result is that most people, like you and Carolija, jump onto the "THIS MEANS HE WON"T TRADE TYREKE" band wagon. I see that and just want to bring balance back into this.

Oh great bringer of cosmic balance!

 

[Gary]

I want Evans at SG for a year before I go one way or the other. If he's moved back to PG I want him traded, if he has a crappy year at SG I want him traded as well. 4 years is plenty of time to see if someone meshes with your team concept or not.

 

[mac]

I want Evans at SG for a year before I go one way or the other. If he's moved back to PG I want him traded, if he has a crappy year at SG I want him traded as well. 4 years is plenty of time to see if someone meshes with your team concept or not.

What if he's moved back to PG but somehow "miraculously" excels at it and we win games? He has a higher likelihood of succeeding at SG, but I won't say "TRADE HIM!" just because he's put back at PG, unless he really doesn't do well there and they don't move to him SG after that.

 

[roasthawg]

I want Evans at SG for a year before I go one way or the other. If he's moved back to PG I want him traded, if he has a crappy year at SG I want him traded as well. 4 years is plenty of time to see if someone meshes with your team concept or not.

Tyreke's one of the few good players on this team... he's not holding the team back, a lack of overall talent is. Trading Tyreke only makes that problem worse assuming we can a less talented player back in return for him (i.e. Kyle Lowry). Don't get rid of your few talented players... rather, find a way to add more talented players to the mix.

 

[rainmaker]

I'm reading deeper than you. The sentence you quote is slanted. You can tell by the order of the clauses. The not comes first, and the but comes after. The result is that most people, like you and Carolija, jump onto the "THIS MEANS HE WON"T TRADE TYREKE" band wagon. I see that and just want to bring balance back into this.

Again I ask, where is evidence anyone said there was proof Reke wouldn't be traded? You're mincing words here again, by fabricating a "this means Reke won't be traded" bandwagon. No one has said that. For all we know he might get traded on Thursday. Everyone knows there's a chance he gets traded. Here's evidence he might not. Quit twisting everything with your constant trolling.


Anyway, here's part of another piece I just came across:

They say that Evans is part of the future and while the draft brings no certainties, the No. 5 pick is substantially safer than two mid-first round picks. Adding to this thought, the Kings are a very young team and bringing two more young pieces in the first round doesn’t seem in the cards.

Contacts inside Evans camp say that the word is mum. They have not been approached by the franchise about an impending deal. In fact, Evans has been holding private workouts with Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie while coach Keith Smart was out of town checking in on other players.


While talks of an extension have yet to materialize, those close to Evans are excited by the hands-on approach by Petrie, something that was not common practice in Evans’ first three seasons. The emphasis of the workouts have been on developing his mid-range game, including a floater, in an attempt to get Evans’ career path back on track.

The 64-year old Petrie was the 1971 co-Rookie of the Year along with Dave Cowens after being drafted eighth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. Knee injuries limited Petrie to just six NBA seasons, but he retired with career averages of 21.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, including two All-Star selections.

According to those in Evans’ camp, he is looking to regain his place in the Kings’ backcourt and is weighing a trim 219 lbs. with 5-percent body fat. With the help of Petrie, Evans is looking to emulate the mid-range game of Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook. It’s not known if the Westbrook model is what the Kings or coach Smart are looking for, but the Kings have been waiting for Evans to take a huge leap in production after his stellar rookie season.

http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2012/...ff-petrie-personally-works-with-tyreke-evans/

 

[Gary]

Tyreke's one of the few good players on this team... he's not holding the team back, a lack of overall talent is. Trading Tyreke only makes that problem worse assuming we can a less talented player back in return for him (i.e. Kyle Lowry). Don't get rid of your few talented players... rather, find a way to add more talented players to the mix.

If he doesn't get a jump shot he could very well hold the team back if playing SG. He needs a mid ranged game at minimum. He can't drive every play.

I am usually in favor of a traditional team. You got your PG who can play PG and your SG who is a good distance shooter, and SF who drives and can shoot long distance when needed ect ect. When we aren't winning much I look at the team as a whole and try to figure out what we need to do. Hopefully moving Evans to SG will help. PG again and I will pull my hair out (especially if we are losing).

 

[cuad]

Again I ask, where is evidence anyone said there was proof Reke wouldn't be traded? You're mincing words here again, by fabricating a "this means Reke won't be traded" bandwagon. No one has said that. For all we know he might get traded on Thursday. Everyone knows there's a chance he gets traded. Here's evidence he might not. Quit twisting everything with your constant trolling.

I'm not an artist, dude. I can't use writing to capture people's exact feelings, but the phrases I use are clear enough for anyone who cares about the topic and who isn't just trying to pick on me.

 

[kennadog]

I'm reading deeper than you. The sentence you quote is slanted. The way that J. Jones structures the sentence puts emphasis on the "investment in progress" part. The result is that most people, like you and Carolija, jump onto the "THIS MEANS HE WON"T TRADE TYREKE" band wagon. I see that and just want to bring balance back into this.

Please show me the quote from a person in this thread that has said that? Especially a quotebefore you jumped in with your "balance" remark. Geez.

 

[King Baller]

I hope to see Tyreke at the 2 with an improved team around him. And I hope that is with the Kings

KB

 

[mac]

Again I ask, where is evidence anyone said there was proof Reke wouldn't be traded? You're mincing words here again, by fabricating a "this means Reke won't be traded" bandwagon. No one has said that. For all we know he might get traded on Thursday. Everyone knows there's a chance he gets traded. Here's evidence he might not. Quit twisting everything with your constant trolling.


Anyway, here's part of another piece I just came across:


http://www.cowbellkingdom.com/2012/...ff-petrie-personally-works-with-tyreke-evans/

I am glad that on re-reading the article it said emulating Westbrook's MIDRANGE game, and not his game in its entirety. In my opinion Westbrook is a great example of someone who doesn't have the best form on his pullup jumpshot, but is still very good at making it.

Still, one need not look any further than the two stars of this year's champions (Wade and James) to see examples of perfect mid range games. Some around here used to think that Tyreke needn't develop a floater, that floaters were for weak, small players who couldn't get to the rim like Tyreke. James and Wade proved just how effective adding a floater could be even though they were already so good at getting to the rim. I also noticed that those two tend to bank their shots a lot more when pulling up from the side 45ish angle. These are all just interesting tools and tricks that the best players have added to their games, which could be very useful for guys like Tyreke to take note of.

On a side note, I hope Thornton improves his floater if he intends on using it. He arguably has the worst looking, most uselss floater in the entire league (out of players who use floaters). He kinda just drives and flips up this low arcing shot, ugh. Please MT, do us a favor and just go back to being the player you were when you first joined us. We did not sign you to a 8m contract to give us 20-0-0.

 

[Glenn]

I laugh at how some are saying that Petrie working with Evans is proof that he won't be traded, when working with him personally might be just the thing that convinces Petrie that Evans isn't so untouchable.

What??? Have you ever heard of a coach, GM, or owner spending extra time with a player they have watched for 3 years to figure out if he should be traded. Please, name one.

 

[Dime Dropper]

What??? Have you ever heard of a coach, GM, or owner spending extra time with a player they have watched for 3 years to figure out if he should be traded. Please, name one.

Don't waste your time, Glenn. It's pointless. Use the ignore function.

 

[DesertFox]

I just want Tyreke to score efficiently and step it up on D. Positions are overrated, as long as good players get good looks and they outscore the opponent, fine.

As far as improvement, I just don't think he has the athletic ability to be in the class of Wade/Rose/Westbrook, but with Cuz around he doesn't need to be. If he can replicate something like Iguodala's career (on both sides of the ball) I'll be satisfied.

 

[ParniValjak]

I'm not an artist, dude. I can't use writing to capture people's exact feelings, but the phrases I use are clear enough for anyone who cares about the topic and who isn't just trying to pick on me.

Oh please!!!!

 

[ParniValjak]

https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/217812796459589633

More Tyreke news: He'll join the Kings in Las Vegas during Summer League, which Smart wants the entire team to do.

Doesn't sound like the actions or expectations of someone that is getting traded.


Also

https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/217813024008974336

Team is extremely pleased w/ Evans' commitment and work ethic this offseason. Also plans to be back in Sac in August for more work w/ team.

 

[rainmaker]

Still, one need not look any further than the two stars of this year's champions (Wade and James) to see examples of perfect mid range games. Some around here used to think that Tyreke needn't develop a floater, that floaters were for weak, small players who couldn't get to the rim like Tyreke. James and Wade proved just how effective adding a floater could be even though they were already so good at getting to the rim. I also noticed that those two tend to bank their shots a lot more when pulling up from the side 45ish angle. These are all just interesting tools and tricks that the best players have added to their games, which could be very useful for guys like Tyreke to take note of.

I agree with this. Reke might be the best in the league at getting to the rim. However, even the best of the best at penetrating can't get to the rim every time, and the passing lanes aren't always open. Reke can get by his man whenever he wants for the most part, but where he has issues is the decision making and/or finishing when the help arrives. The other elite penetrators can't get all the way to rim every time either, such as Rose/Parker/Westbrook/Wade, and they all have something to go to when that final step or two is taken away. That's where you either have passing lanes open to perimeter shooters or a dumpoff to a big, as the defense helps, or you need some form of a runner/tear drop/floater to finish in that 5-12ft range.

I'm very glad to hear that is what he's concentrating on, along with a midrange pullup. I'm still not sure after 3 yrs if the real problem is decision making when he attacks. To me, it's one of or a combination of a) not having confidence in finishing when that final step or two is taken away, b) not having confidence in his shooters which leads to a forced attempt, or c) due in part to our ever changing offense and his ever changing role, not knowing where his teammates will be when the help comes. Just want to make clear to others here I'm referring to when he attacks, not the speed in which he sets up the offense.

But it's also a learning process, he's shown improvement and a midrange game would definitely help. Parker went through it. Westbrook went though it and still is. Wall is going through it. It takes time. But the midrange game gives you confidence in that you feel you always have something to fall back on when you get by your man, whether or not passing lanes are open, or whether or not the defense comes over and clogs your path to the rim. I also question how much is decision making being poor with Reke because I'd guess if/when he does get a midrange game his entire game will look significantly better as it will open everything up. It won't be in that scenario that his decision making all the sudden got that much better, but instead has more answers for the defense and isn't forced into uncomfortable situations.

 

[Anthony1]

I'm mystified by the people that want Evans at SG. His biggest weakness is the fact that he can't shoot (yeah, I know he's working on it), so let's move him to the position that is normally held by the number 1 gunner. Now, if we somehow end up with Lillard, who is a good shooter at PG, then I could maybe see Evans playing with him in the backcourt, and we'd having a shooting PG, with a driving SG, which is normally vice-versa, but it might work out ok. Other than that, Evans needs to be back at PG. I've said it numerous times, but Evans league-wide value is at one of it's lower points in his pro career, so I'm not a huge fan of trading him NOW, because I don't want to get screwed in the deal. My ideal scenario is Evans is back at the PG, and we basically run everything thru him, and make him the No.1 focal point of the offense. Not because such a strategy makes long-term sense, but to inflate his trade value as much as humanly possible before the deadline. Then deal him for close to fair value.

Right now, we can't get fair value in trade for him. I'd be willing to trade Evans for the 6th overall pick, and come out of this draft with both MKG and Lillard, but I'm guessing that Portland wouldn't be interested in that. I'd also be willing to trade Evans to any of the teams ahead of us, for their pick, but again, doubtful any of those teams would be willing to give up such a high pick for Evans. Yes, Evans was 4th overall, and ROY, but again, he seems to be a player that doesn't fit very well. A talented player, no doubt, but a player that doesn't seem to fit very well. If Evans was scoring 20+ every night and dropping 7 or 8 dimes every night, then I think we can get some decent value for him, and that's why I think we should have a "pump-up-Evans-trade-value" strategy, in the short term, but I seriously doubt the Maloofs or GP would be crafty or cutthroat enough to think along those lines.

 

[hrdboild]

https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/217812796459589633

Doesn't sound like the actions or expectations of someone that is getting traded.

Also

https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/217813024008974336

What happened last season because of the lockout was highly irregular. Teams weren't even allowed to contact their own players. We should see a much better approach this off-season with all of our returning players I think. Remember Tyreke got injured in USA basketball camp the summer after his rookie season too. His work ethic has always been solid, it's a matter more of getting the right people instructing him and having time to put in the work without a game every other night to prepare for and recover from.

 

[Spike]

I'm mystified by the people that want Evans at SG. His biggest weakness is the fact that he can't shoot (yeah, I know he's working on it), so let's move him to the position that is normally held by the number 1 gunner. Now, if we somehow end up with Lillard, who is a good shooter at PG, then I could maybe see Evans playing with him in the backcourt, and we'd having a shooting PG, with a driving SG, which is normally vice-versa, but it might work out ok. Other than that, Evans needs to be back at PG. I've said it numerous times, but Evan's league-wide value is at one of it's lower points in his pro career, so I'm not a huge fan of trading him NOW, because I don't want to get screwed in the deal. My ideal scenario is Evans is back at the PG, and we basically run everything thru him, and make him the No.1 focal point of the offense. Not because such a strategy makes long-term sense, but to inflate his trade value as much as humanly possible before the deadline. Then deal him for close to fair value.

Right now, we can't get fair value in trade for him. I'd be willing to trade Evans for the 6th overall pick, and come out of this draft with both MKG and Lillard, but I'm guessing that Portland wouldn't be interested in that. I'd also be willing to trade Evans to any of the teams ahead of us, for their pick, but again, doubtful any of those teams would be willing to give up such a high pick for Evans. Yes, Evans was 4th overall, and ROY, but again, he seems to be a player that doesn't fit very well. A talented player, no doubt, but a player that doesn't seem to fit very well. If Evans was scoring 20+ every night and dropping 7 or 8 dimes every night, then I think we can get some decent value for him, and that's why I think we should have a "pump-up-Evans-trade-value" strategy, in the short term, but I seriously doubt the Maloofs or GP would be crafty or cutthroat enough to think along those lines.

Kings fans be crazy. You would want to trade Evans if you're getting 20 pts 8 ast? He probably would have had those numbers if his teammates made half of their missed shots earlier last year.

smh

 

[est.1999]

I want Evans at SG for a year before I go one way or the other. If he's moved back to PG I want him traded, if he has a crappy year at SG I want him traded as well. 4 years is plenty of time to see if someone meshes with your team concept or not.

Team concept? What is this 'unknown to the kings organization' thing you speak of!? Lol

 

[Anthony1]

Kings fans be crazy. You would want to trade Evans if you're getting 20 pts 8 ast? He probably would have had those numbers if his teammates made half of their missed shots earlier last year.

smh

Well, some people believe that Evans is one of our key cornerstones, and just needs to get his confidence back, and into a system that fits his skills better. I'm not one of those people.


I'm one of the people that feels that Evans 20/5/5 was fool's gold. Evans was never as amazing as any of us thought he was. He has an uncanny ability to get to the rack, and to contort his body in crazy ways, all the while throwing his legs and feet in crazy directions as he attempts to scoop a layup in. That's the one thing that he has proven in his career so far. He's top 5 in the NBA in getting to the rack. If you value that above everything else, then Evans is the guy for you. Personally, I think Evans is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He doesn't fit with the Kings. He's not a legit PG. He can't shoot, so really hard to see how he would work out well at SG, and he's definitely not a SF. So, he doesn't fit any conventional position. Having said that, yes, he's a very skilled basketball player, and he's not worthless by any stretch of the imagination.

Bottom line, my take on Evans is that he'll never be the guy we were hoping he would be, so let's try to squeeze as much juice out of him as possible by inflating his trade value before the deadline and sending him packing. The mistake the Kings made last year, was having this silly line of thinking that IT could win ROY, and that basically F'd everything up. Otherwise, we could have had Evans back at PG, and could have pumped his value enough that maybe Evans and #36 overall could be heading towards Charlotte for #2 overall. We could have Beal and MKG to pair with Cousins as our trifecta of future megastars. But no..... we had to keep giving IT crazy minutes with the wishful thought that he'd be ROY and the talk of the NBA considering he was the last pick.

 

[mac]

Well, some people believe that Evans is one of our key cornerstones, and just needs to get his confidence back, and into a system that fits his skills better. I'm not one of those people.


I'm one of the people that feels that Evans 20/5/5 was fool's gold. Evans was never as amazing as any of us thought he was. He has an uncanny ability to get to the rack, and to contort his body in crazy ways, all the while throwing his legs and feet in crazy directions as he attempts to scoop a layup in. That's the one thing that he has proven in his career so far. He's top 5 in the NBA in getting to the rack. If you value that above everything else, then Evans is the guy for you. Personally, I think Evans is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He doesn't fit with the Kings. He's not a legit PG. He can't shoot, so really hard to see how he would work out well at SG, and he's definitely not a SF. So, he doesn't fit any conventional position. Having said that, yes, he's a very skilled basketball player, and he's not worthless by any stretch of the imagination.

Bottom line, my take on Evans is that he'll never be the guy we were hoping he would be, so let's try to squeeze as much juice out of him as possible by inflating his trade value before the deadline and sending him packing. The mistake the Kings made last year, was having this silly line of thinking that IT could win ROY, and that basically F'd everything up. Otherwise, we could have had Evans back at PG, and could have pumped his value enough that maybe Evans and #36 overall could be heading towards Charlotte for #2 overall. We could have Beal and MKG to pair with Cousins as our trifecta of future megastars. But no..... we had to keep giving IT crazy minutes with the wishful thought that he'd be ROY and the talk of the NBA considering he was the last pick.

So ... you don't think Evans will ever be the guy we hope he will be, but you think the Bobcats would like him enough to give you the #2 pick. That makes sense.

It's like .. for example, Tyreke Evans 2011-2012 20ppg,5rpg,6apg.
Anthony1 - Bleh, never going to be the player we hope he will be. Trade him while he has value so that we can pick Beal.
Bobcats (who would have the option of picking Beal or Robinson) - Oo Tyreke is going to be so good, let's give SAC our #2 pick.

It just doesn't add up.

As a side note, I don't think we'd have gotten the 5th pick if Evans was mainly at PG/SG last season, so we wouldn't get MKG. And, if we picked Beal at #2 we also wouldn't get MKG at #5. So you really aren't making much sense, if you ask me.

 

[Anthony1]

So ... you don't think Evans will ever be the guy we hope he will be, but you think the Bobcats would like him enough to give you the #2 pick. That makes sense.

It's like .. for example, Tyreke Evans 2011-2012 20ppg,5rpg,6apg.
Anthony1 - Bleh, never going to be the player we hope he will be. Trade him while he has value so that we can pick Beal.
Bobcats (who would have the option of picking Beal or Robinson) - Oo Tyreke is going to be so good, let's give SAC our #2 pick.

It just doesn't add up.

As a side note, I don't think we'd have gotten the 5th pick if Evans was mainly at PG/SG last season, so we wouldn't get MKG. And, if we picked Beal at #2 we also wouldn't get MKG at #5. So you really aren't making much sense, if you ask me.

I think the Bobcats "MIGHT" be interested in Reke, had we played him exclusively at PG last year, and really tried to pump up his trade value by making everything run thru Evans, and basically just trying to make him as much of a stat machine as possible.


Now, whether or not that strategy would have meant that we might have won a couple more games than we did.... well.... I'm not sure about that. Maybe, maybe not. Still, even if we won like 5 more games and ended up with the 8th pick, we'd have No.2 and No.8, and could still potentially come away with 2 cornerstone type guys to pair with Cousins. Of course, all of this is contingent on whether or not Jordan would be dumb enough to be fooled by the fool's gold as well. I'm thinking he would be dumb enough. But yeah, it's a gamble.


Regardless, we bungled any chance we had at getting decent value for Reke this summer by playing him at SF, so this discussion is pretty much moot anyways.

 

[VF21]

I'm reading deeper than you. The sentence you quote is slanted. The way that J. Jones structures the sentence puts emphasis on the "investment in progress" part. The result is that most people, like you and Carolija, jump onto the "THIS MEANS HE WON"T TRADE TYREKE" band wagon. I see that and just want to bring balance back into this.

Sooner or later, one of the mods is going to take care of bringing the balance back. Thanks, though...