Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch tends to have rookies notoriously low on the depth chart. Unfortunately, with second-round rookie Isaiah Evans, he might be doomed to experience a similar fate. However, there is a glimmer of hope that could land him at least a spotty role in the rotation on certain nights: his shooting prowess.
Evans was a highly touted high school product, and when he committed to Duke University, expectations were through the roof. His freshman season was pretty inconsistent, ultimately forcing him to go back to school in hopes of raising his value, and he ended up having a much better sophomore season. He's known as a prototypical 3-and-D wing, and he's shown exactly that.
Evans' 3-and-D skill set could see him competing for a role
In summer league, the shot wasn't falling at times, but his competitiveness on defense stood out to fans. He seemed extremely locked in on that end, and the last thing people should be worried about is his shot falling. That will come with more practice from the NBA three-point line.
One thing about roster construction: you can never have too many players who can stretch the floor and play competitive perimeter defense. That archetype is among the most valuable in the league. Evans theoretically fits that role to a tee, and with the Wolves relatively starved for backup wings, he may see some in-game action here and there.
Tim Connelly has brought up the need for guys who can do more with less. This is also a valuable part of Evans' game. He'll never take away on-ball touches from the main scoring options. He isn't going to clog the paint, and he can even take on tougher defensive matchups at times to save some of the more taxed members of the team.
He can be a semblance of a Donte DiVincenzo replacement
When DiVincenzo went down in the playoffs last season, the immediate thought was that he would be sidelined throughout the entire following year. But with his rehab going exceptionally well, and the Timberwolves are hoping that he can return at some point in the season.
When DiVincenzo is on the court, he provides limitless range, from beyond the arc nosed defense on the perimeter, and he's the guy who makes the majority of the hustle plays. I'm not saying that rookie Evans can immediately produce as much as Donte will, but if he can replicate that role to some degree, the Wolves may have found a diamond in the rough.
I wouldn't bet on Evans receiving consistent minutes in his first season, especially right away, unless he absolutely blows people away at training camp. However, if the Wolves find that they need more spacing in the rotation and their current bench isn't clicking, I think that plugging Evans in for that purpose could potentially pay huge dividends down the line.
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