http://0rz.tw/LAHds

There are a lot of perks that come with being an NBA player.  Money, fame and
a boatload of other material pluses that make your life seem easy from the
outside.

Unfortunately, there are also constant rumors and hearsay about players’
 futures with their current clubs.  Trade rumors, contract negotiations and
free agency are all part of the game.

This morning we woke up to multiple reports that the Houston Rockets were
offering Kyle Lowry along with the 14th and 16th pick in Thursday’s draft
for Tyreke Evans and the fifth pick in the draft.

Sources inside the Kings say no way.

They say that Evans is part of the future and while the draft brings no
certainties, the No. 5 pick is substantially safer than two mid-first round
picks.  Adding to this thought, the Kings are a very young team and bringing
two more young pieces in the first round doesn’t seem in the cards.

Contacts inside Evans camp say that the word is mum.  They have not been
approached by the franchise about an impending deal.  In fact, Evans has been
holding private workouts with Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff
Petrie while coach Keith Smart was out of town checking in on other players.


While talks of an extension have yet to materialize, those close to Evans are
excited by the hands-on approach by Petrie, something that was not common
practice in Evans’ first three seasons.  The emphasis of the workouts have
been on developing his mid-range game, including a floater, in an attempt to
get Evans’ career path back on track.

The 64-year old Petrie was the 1971 co-Rookie of the Year along with Dave
Cowens after being drafted eighth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.
 Knee injuries limited Petrie to just six NBA seasons, but he retired with
career averages of 21.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, including two
All-Star selections.

According to those in Evans’ camp, he is looking to regain his place in the
Kings’ backcourt and is weighing a trim 219 lbs. with 5-percent body fat.
 With the help of Petrie, Evans is looking to emulate the mid-range game of
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook.  It’s not known if the Westbrook
model is what the Kings or coach Smart are looking for, but the Kings have
been waiting for Evans to take a huge leap in production after his stellar
rookie season.