Tyreke Evans to come off bench

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The New Orleans Pelicans plan to use newly acquired swingman Tyreke Evans off the bench.

Pelicans coach Monty Williams revealed his plan Monday, the day before the team began training camp.

"We talked to [Evans] about that this summer, and it wasn't an issue for him," Williams said, according to the Times-Picayune. "I don't think guys worry about [being in the starting lineup] anymore. I think they are more concerned with the minutes -- if the minutes are still where they could be."

Evans joined the Pelicans in the offseason through a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings, signing a four-year deal worth $44 million. The 6-foot-6 Evans says he does not have a preference between being a starter or a reserve.

"I'd like to get him in the game for 28 to 30 minutes a game," Williams said. "That would be optimum for us. That would keep him fresh but also keep him on the floor.

"Now, that changes because of circumstance. But I think guys are more concerned with minutes than they are with starting. And I think guys are concerned with finishing the game."

Although Evans primarily has played shooting guard in his career, he has experience at point guard and small forward as well. He averaged 20.1 points as a rookie in 2009-10, but his scoring has dropped slightly each year since, down to 15.2 last season.

In New Orleans, Evans joined a team that already had a starting backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Eric Gordon.

"Depending on who's in the game with [Evans], I think he can play some point, certainly he can play both wing spots," Williams said. "On most NBA teams, the 2 and the 3 are the same. It's not like back in the day when the small forward spot was on an island by itself. Now those two spots pretty much mesh."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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