Kings sign Evans to rookie deal
The Sacramento Kings signed guard Tyreke Evans, the No. 4 overall pick in last month's draft.
The Chester native, who starred at American Christian Academy, helped Memphis win 27 games in his lone college season, averaging 17.1 points. Terms of the contract were not disclosed but he could earn about $3.6 million as a rookie in the deal he signed yesterday.
The Kings had the worst record in the NBA and are counting on Evans to help get things turned around in a hurry. The 6-5 Evans turns 20 in September and was among a talented crop of point guards in this year's draft.
Noteworthy
* A person with knowledge of the deal says the Dallas Mavericks will acquire forward Shawn Marion from Toronto.
The trade is not official, but the person told the Associated Press it should be completed. The person was granted anonymity because the deal was still being worked on.
The Raptors couldn't afford to re-sign Marion because they need to clear salary cap space for Hedo Turkoglu. They are close to an agreement with the Orlando Magic free agent.
In other news, the Mavericks signed 6-6 free agent guard Quinton Ross. A Dallas native who played four seasons at SMU, Ross has spent the last 5 years with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies. He made 37.5 percent of his three-pointers for the Grizzlies last season.
* The Houston Rockets are still hoping Yao Ming returns next season, but they have been able to cash in on his injury.
The Rockets applied for a disabled player exception from the NBA a few weeks ago, betting that their All-Star center will miss next season with a hairline fracture in his left foot.
The NBA agreed that Yao's return is unlikely, freeing up about $5.7 million that the Rockets used to sign free agent Trevor Ariza from the Lakers.
General manager Daryl Morey says the league's approval does not rule out Yao's return this season.
Yao is still consulting with doctors and deciding on treatment.
"I am optimistic about the future and I will return to playing basketball when my foot has fully healed," Yao said in a statement released by his agent. "My focus is on selecting the best treatment option for my injured foot and committing myself to do what I can to ensure a complete recovery."
* Chris "Birdman" Andersen has reached a 5-year deal to keep his high-flying, shot-blocking act with the Denver Nuggets. Andersen, 31, could make up to $26 million over the lifetime of a back-loaded contract that gives the Nuggets financial flexibility.
* NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is making another big contribution to help the victims of a wildfire that destroyed more than 250 homes at Lake Tahoe 2 years ago. Barkley donated $100,000 a year ago to South Tahoe's Community Disaster Resource Center to benefit victims of the 2007 Angora Fire. Center chairman Dick Schwarte says they received another check for $90,000 last week on the eve of the 20th annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.
* Sought-after free agent Antonio McDyess has reached a deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Spurs had their full midlevel exception, worth about $5.85 million, to offer McDyess.
The 34-year-old forward averaged 9.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in his 14th NBA season last year with the Pistons.
* The NBA players' association is upset with the league over a warning it sent teams projecting a significant decrease in the 2010-11 salary cap. The memo tells teams that the salary cap and luxury tax levels are expected to drop, echoing comments commissioner David Stern has made at various times this season. But the union believes the predictions could discourage teams from offering big deals to free agents. *
