Warriors Add Wing Depth by Selecting Jacob Evans with 28th Pick
By Andrew Ites
The Warriors addressed a need with their 28th overall pick by adding an athletic wing in Cincinnati’s Jacob Evans.
The Warriors’ lack of depth on the wing was exposed after Andre Iguodala and Patrick McCaw suffered injuries late in the year and in the postseason.
Last year’s free agent acquisitions Omri Casspi and Nick Young did not work out as well as Golden State hoped, and the Warriors might not be able to hold onto McCaw as he hits restricted free agency.
Selecting Jacob Evans gives this team a versatile young wing that can contribute right away off the bench.
Evans is one of the more experienced players in the draft after playing significant minutes in three seasons at Cincinnati.
More from Blue Man Hoop
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
The 6-foot 6-inch 200-pound swingman shot 37.7% from three on 4.4 attempts per game during his collegiate career, so he has the potential to stretch the floor at the NBA level. He also shot 75.4% from the free throw line, which is often a better indicator of a player’s shooting ability.
Evans has the defense to go along with that shooting to make him a classic “three and D” prospect.
He was a key piece of one of the nation’s best defenses at Cincinatti. Evans averaged 1.3 steals per game in each of his last two years as a Bearcat, and he even blocked one shot per game last season.
He was ranked number 22 on The Ringer’s big board, and he was praised for his high basketball IQ.
His weaknesses on the scouting report included an inability to create his own shot and a lack of explosion as an athlete. Fortunately, the Warriors won’t ask him to handle the ball much on the offensive end and he was athletic enough to be a shutdown defender in college.
Next: Warriors 15 Best Draft Picks of All-Time
The Warriors have had their eye on Jacob Evans throughout the draft process, and they have to be happy he was on the board at pick number 28.