Trading out of the first round and moving down five spots in the 2026 NBA Draft in the Julius Randle deal didn’t seem to affect the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nobody would have batted an eye if they selected guard Isaiah Evans of Duke with the 28th pick. Instead, they got the sharpshooter 33rd overall.
Duke expert John Mitchell of Ball Durham says this about Evans,
“Isaiah Evans is a sharp-shooter who flashed the ability to translate into a 3-and-D wing at the next level. He’s capable of getting a shot up at all times, and really improved on the defensive end as a sophomore.”
Let’s get to know more about the 20-year-old with some more quotes on his game via Mitchell.
Evans' outside shooting may allow him to be playable right away
The Timberwolves can certainly use more shooters for next season, particularly with Donte DiVincenzo potentially being out all year. That’s surely one of Evans’ main qualities.
“His confidence will shine through immediately.” Mitchell says. “He’s an unabashed shooter who doesn’t get down on himself even if the first few don’t fall. He’s going to keep shooting.”
Evans threw up nearly 7.5 3-pointers per contest last season, making them at a 36.1 percent clip. While that’s not elite, he was better in ACC play (39.3 percent), and his volume (7.4 3s per game) was elite. Plus, the 6-foot-6 guard shot 41.6 percent from deep as a freshman.
He’s also a long-limbed player who will have no problem shooting over other perimeter players. Chris Finch loves playing guys who can give it a go at the defensive end. Mitchell states,
“His 6-foot-9 wingspan will allow him to shoot over top of defenders while also allowing him to be a pest defensively.”
The Timberwolves had two clear needs that needed to be filled: outside shooting and ball-handling. Evans can at least help a great deal with the first one.
Where can he stand to improve?
Sounds like a great player to get, right? Evans absolutely is, but of course in falling to the second round, there are concerns as well.
While he’s five inches taller, he has a slight frame that is similar to the concerns after the Timberwolves drafted Rob Dillingham in 2024. As a matter of fact, Mitchell lists Evans’ weight as a key area for growth.
“Can he add weight to his frame?” Mitchell asks. “He has the length and skill to be a good defender, but he’ll get bullied in the NBA right now on that end at just 186 pounds.”
For a potential red flag that Evans has entering the NBA, Mitchell writes,
“His athletic profile at the Combine was a red flag with just a 27.0” standing vertical. That, along with his slight frame, could limit his offensive ceiling and force him into a specialist role.”
For now, depth looks like it could be a concern for the Timberwolves for next season. They will be without DiVincenzo and Randle, two players who combined to start 161 games in the regular season in 2025-26.
Will Evans 3-point shot be vital enough to see him enter the rotation as a rookie? Chris Finch hasn’t utilized his rookies all that much in recent years. All in all, though, it seems like a great value to land Evans early in the second round.
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