08-25-2005, 08:39 PM
The Detroit Pistons signed Sacramento swingman Maurice Evans to a three-year, $4.5 million offer sheet Wednesday.
The Kings have seven days to match the offer to retain Evans, a restricted free agent from Wichita. They might not because after signing Shareef Abdur-Rahim earlier this month, they were expected to let Evans and forward Darius Songaila leave.
Detroit wants to add the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Evans because he would provide depth behind starting small forward Tayshaun Prince and shooting guard Richard Hamilton. He will compete with Carlos Delfino and Ronald Dupree for playing time, if Sacramento doesn't match the offer.
Evans, 26, a solid defender, averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 19 minutes in 65 games, including 11 starts, and made similar contributions in the playoffs last season with the Kings. He scored a career-high 17 points on Feb. 13 at Boston, and had a career-high 14 rebounds the next month against Memphis. San Antonio also was interested in Evans.
The Kings have seven days to match the offer to retain Evans, a restricted free agent from Wichita. They might not because after signing Shareef Abdur-Rahim earlier this month, they were expected to let Evans and forward Darius Songaila leave.
Detroit wants to add the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Evans because he would provide depth behind starting small forward Tayshaun Prince and shooting guard Richard Hamilton. He will compete with Carlos Delfino and Ronald Dupree for playing time, if Sacramento doesn't match the offer.
Evans, 26, a solid defender, averaged 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 19 minutes in 65 games, including 11 starts, and made similar contributions in the playoffs last season with the Kings. He scored a career-high 17 points on Feb. 13 at Boston, and had a career-high 14 rebounds the next month against Memphis. San Antonio also was interested in Evans.

