Isaiah Evans offers dynamic scoring and elite shooting, potentially filling a crucial offensive void for the Sixers.
If the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for a wing who can fit cleanly next to Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, Duke's Isaiah Evans could fill that role perfectly.
CBS Sports' latest mock draft projects Evans to Philadelphia near the end of the first round. This is the sort of pick that could pay dividends, as Evans has expanded his scoring repertoire and become a great scorer on a stacked Duke roster.
The appeal starts with the numbers. Evans is averaging 15 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 36.1% from three. The statistical improvement is great to see, as he has gone from being strictly a catch-and-shoot player to someone capable of creating his own offense. What stands out the most is his ability from within the arc. Evans boasts a 56.7% shooting percentage from within the arc, which puts him in the 85th percentile among all players. Scouts already know about his prowess from beyond the arc, but seeing that Evans can operate well from within it will fill them with confidence about how he projects at the next level.
His tournament performances add another layer to his case. Evans scored 25 points against St. John's in the Sweet 16, going 10-15 from the field and 4-8 from deep, and followed it with 17 points against TCU. He also hit the game-winning three-pointer in Duke's 67-66 win over Florida. These are the kinds of outings that suggest he is more than capable of playing well when the lights are bright, and that will be required playing for a playoff team such as Philadelphia.
Philly already has primary creators such as Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid; what they need around those two is movement, shooting, quick decision-making, and a wing who can attack closeouts well. As a team, Philadelphia shot 34.9% from three, good for 23rd in the league, so adding another floor spacer will help create cleaner driving lanes for Maxey and Edgecombe and allow Joel Embiid to operate in the post without facing as many double teams.
There are still some red flags. Evans is a bit slim at only 180 pounds and will need to bulk up at the next level, and there is also speculation that he will return to school instead of entering the NBA Draft. But for a Sixers team that could use shooting, he profiles as a strong fit in the short and long term.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.