As the Feb. 8 trade deadline inches closer, teams are beginning to make, the Memphis Grizzlies are preparing for potential moves. For the Grizzlies, moving point guard Tyreke Evans is the main priority as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Memphis will sit Evans until a deal is reached.
According to ESPN, the Grizzlies are looking for a first-round pick in return for Evans.
Following from ESPN,
As trade discussions involving Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyreke Evans intensify, the organization plans to sit him out until a deal is completed, league sources tell ESPN.
The Grizzlies are shopping Evans to try to bring back a first-round draft pick, league sources said, and discussions with several playoff-contending teams have intensified in the past 24 hours.
Evans has used his time in Memphis to revive his once-promising that was derailed by injury. This season, the 28-year-old is averaging 19.5 points, five assists, and shooting 39 percent from three.
Wojnarowski reports that a host of contending teams in the league are looking acquire the services of the resurgent Evans.
Teams chasing the playoffs in the East (Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston) and the West (Denver and New Orleans) are among those expressing interest in acquiring Evans, league sources said.
What the Grizzlies ultimately net for Evans in a trade will be an interesting development. Greg Monroe, who was recently bought by the Phoenix Suns, is another player who is waiting to find out where he will spend the second half of the NBA season.
Grizzlies teammate Marc Gasol told the Commercial Appeal, he appreciates what Evans brought to the team, but knows where his focus must remain.
“He was a great piece. He brought tremendous things to us as a team,” Gasol said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But we as players have to concentrate on what we have to do on the floor.”
