Thunderous Intentions
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NBA Free Agency: Nabbing Tyreke Evans would give OKC edge on competition

By Benjamin McCoy

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 18: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during a team practice on March 20, 2018 at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 18: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during a team practice on March 20, 2018 at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Free Agency
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 21: Tyreke Evans #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against Jerami Grant #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center on December 21, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Potential Suitors for Noel in NBA Free Agency:

Tyreke Evans will attract a lot of attention. The one suitor that will be the most pertinent to the Thunder is the Warriors. The Warriors can’t offer Evans anything north of the mid-level, but if he continues to worm through Free Agency unsigned, then he may start considering winning over money.

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Evans’ switchability fits seamlessly with their small ball lineups. And with Iggy on the decline, them getting reinforcements doesn’t help OKC’s cause. Because of Golden States’ public interest in Evans, the stakes of a player of his caliber are anomalously higher than usual.

What is good for the Warriors usually works well against them. Moreover, Tyreke being in OKC would mean fewer mismatches when the Dubs go small, and more maneuverability outside the arc. There are a few more suitors of note such as the Pacers, and Memphis. But ultimately the implications of letting Tyreke slip to Golden State are greater than those of any other location.

Tyreke Evan’s Fit with Thunder:

As stated in the previous section Tyreke Evans is a modern NBA player. Moreover, his ability to switch, handle the ball, pass, and defend make him a perfect fit for OKC. His ability to work off the ball with a player like Westbrook slinging the rock around would be nice too.

Furthermore, he is a versatile enough player he would fill multiple holes including backup point-guard. He is a proficient enough of a scorer that when PG and Russ are resting he can take on the scoring load that Carmelo Anthony couldn’t.

Next: Complete NBA Free Agency primer

Swiss army knife players aren’t common, especially at this price. He fits because he can be easily shown how to fit. With the Thunder already over the cap, a NBA Free Agency signing like this would kill two birds with one stone.

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