Minnesota Timberwolves: Tracking new players’ progress part 2
By Andrew Ites
Jacob Evans
Jacob Evans ended up being a throw-in piece of the D’Angelo Russell trade as the Warriors wanted to get off of his money in order to avoid paying the luxury tax this season.
After being taken in the first round of the 2018 draft, Golden State decided Evans wasn’t worth holding onto so the Wolves took him on as a young wing project that could hopefully develop his game in the G League.
The former Cincinnati Bearcat has played in five games for the Iowa Wolves since that trade averaging 18.2 minutes per night.
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Unfortunately, Evans’ numbers have been absolutely putrid in that limited action as he’s averaging just 3.6 points per game while shooting 16.7 percent from the floor and 8.3 percent from three. Evans hasn’t contributed a ton in the other statistical categories with 2.6 rebounds and 2 assists per game, but he does have a positive plus-minus per game of +5.6.
The Wolves are hoping Evans can become some sort of three-and-D contributor in the future, but he’s been an inconsistent shooter at the G League and NBA levels thus far, and he hasn’t shown the ability to be a difference-maker on the defensive end of the floor yet.
There is still plenty of room to grow for the 22-year-old forward, but as of now I don’t believe the Wolves are counting on him to be a critical piece of their young core.