As it stands today, the Boston Celtics are the biggest threat to dethroning the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
They have the best record once again in the eastern conference at 35-15 and are the best defensive team in the NBA. That doesn’t mean that they can’t utilize their king’s ransom of picks and young players in order to acquire another veteran, and that veteran could be Tyreke Evans.
Memphis Grizzlies Reporter Ronald Tillery tweeted this over the weekend:
Not confirmed. But don't be surprised if Tyreke Evans is moved to Boston
— Ronald Tillery (@CAGrizBeat) January 28, 2018
Evans is having a renaissance season in Memphis, averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds and serving as the starting point guard for the Grizzlies in Mike Conley’s stead.
This is the best and healthiest season he has had in years since being viewed as a future star after a very impressive beginning to his career.
The Celtics have plenty of young players and picks they can throw at Memphis to acquire Evans, who is on a one-year, $3.2 million mid-level exception. Boston could use their Disabled Player Exception due to Gordon Hayward’s injury, which can be used for up to $8.4 million in order to not even have to deal someone on their roster in theory, but if I were Memphis I would absolutely request for a young player not currently in the Celtics rotation like Guerschon Yabusuele (French Draymond, huge fan of his) or Abel Nader in order to give away Evans.
The Celtics have everything they need to acquire another veteran in the next couple weeks, we’ll see if that guy is Tyreke Evans.
