Free agent guard Maurice Evans is still looking to hook on with a team as we close in on the start of the 2011/12 season and has received several offers for make-good contracts from around the league. However, the 33-year-old says that he won't consider taking any of them as he believes that he deserves a guaranteed contract, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
“I did not entertain any non-guaranteed contracts,” Evans said. “At this point in my career, every team and GM is familiar with my skill-set and what impact I would have on their team. A non-guarantee was not appealing at all, especially coming off the heels of helping negotiate the current CBA just last year. I believe there will be opportunities that will manifest after training camp. There are many players still at home that can bring tremendous value to teams.”
Evans believes that he has plenty left in the tank at this stage of his career, but the Wizards didn't do him any favors last season as his minutes shrank in the midst of the club's youth movement. In 14.3 minutes per contest, Evans averaged 4.9 PPG and 1.0 RPG. It was reported that General Manager Ernie Grunfeld offered Evans a position in the front office, but the guard says that he was never formally presented with that opportunity. Regardless, Evans says that he's willing to call it a career if he can't find a club willing to give him a guaranteed contract.