Is Tyreke Evans worth consideration for the Bulls?

It looks like the Chicago Bulls still could be active on the buyout market in the days ahead. Granted, there’s not a whole lot of time remaining for moves to take place on the buyout market. But there is still the option for the Bulls to straight-up hit free agency to fill any remaining roster needs they deem necessary.

One of the more hotly discussed names of late around the NBA in free agency is the former Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings wing/forward Tyreke Evans. After getting reinstated by the NBA earlier this month, Evans is looking to at least get some consideration from a few NBA teams to get signed for the stretch run this season.

Evans was suspended for the last three seasons by the NBA. That came before getting reinstated to play in the league for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.

And according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic/Stadium on Twitter on the morning of Feb. 26, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to meet with Evans. If the Bucks are interested in signing Evans for the stretch run this season, other teams are likely to follow.

Having the Bucks interested in Evans is also a reason to believe that his stock could be on the rise.

Should Chicago Bulls join the Bucks in pursuit of F Tyreke Evans?

Nonetheless, it is worth asking the question if the Bulls should be interested in pursuing Evans after he was reinstated to the NBA earlier this month?

There would be a lot of risks that the Bulls’ front office would clearly be taking if they added Evans to the roster. Making more roster moves down the stretch this season could mess with some of the special chemistry this team has clearly built up this season.

At the same time, it is also clear that the Bulls could still use some help in the postseason. There are multiple occasions this season where the Bulls just looked overmatched by some of the top teams around the NBA. That includes their tough late loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Feb 26.

You can look at this argument from multiple sides. But the first issue likely has to do with the fact that signing Evans could mess with this team’s chemistry.

They already had to part ways with the recently signed forward Alfonzo McKinnie to add the former Pacers and Kings big man Tristan Thompson. That was a less risky move than signing Evans would be. But adding two potentially polarizing figures to fill reserve roles in the stretch run of the season presents obvious risks to existing team chemistry.

Evans is the type of player that also tends to be high usage, even when he’s playing in the second or third unit for a team. Going back to even the last two seasons he played in the NBA (2017-18 with the Grizzlies and 2018-19 with the Pacers), Evans commanded usage rates higher than 26 percent.

The Bulls have a few high-usage players that would likely have a higher floor in terms of their production and efficiency coming off the bench than someone like Evans. That namely includes the trio of point guard Coby White, star shooting guard Zach LaVine, and five-time All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan.

It’s hard to argue that Evans will give the Bulls more consistent production off the bench than anyone in that talented trio of players on this team. Meanwhile, it’s clear that second-year head coach Billy Donovan isn’t planning on running with more than a 10-man rotation as the core part of his lineup down the stretch this season.

Once the Bulls get the likes of point guard Alex Caruso, point guard Lonzo Ball, and forward Patrick Williams back in the rotation, it would be really difficult to find room for Evans.

All of these factors contribute to show why it doesn’t make much sense for the Bulls to add a player like Evans off the free agent market. If the Bulls still want to add another piece, it looks like a veteran guard or wing would be the best way to go.

It does look like another contender could swoop in and sign Evans before too long. He still brings value to the table for any team that needs to add forward depth that can also be a legit offensive initiator playing at the three or the four.