Pelicans give Evans $44-milion offer sheet
The New Orleans Pelicans committed to giving guard Tyreke Evans, a restricted free agent with the Sacramento Kings, with a four-year, $44 million offer sheet when the NBA's moratorium on signing players ends July 10, according to league sources.
Under NBA rules, when the Kings officially receive the offer sheet, they would have three days to decide whether to match deal and retain Evans, or let him go to the Pelicans.
General manager Dell Demps of the Pelicans met with Evans and his representatives shortly after Sunday night in Los Angeles, as soon as teams were able to start negotiations with free agents.
Evans, the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year, averaged 15.2 points last season for Sacramento.
However, the Kings declined to give Evans a contract extension last year, giving him an opportunity to negotiate contracts with other teams this summer.
Sacramento retained its rights to match any offer sheet by giving Evans a qualifying offer last week for $6.9 million for next season.
The Kings took Kansas freshman shooting guard Ben McLemore with the seventh pick in last week's NBA Draft.
