Cincinnati junior forward Jacob Evans, the Warriors’ first-round draft pick (28th overall), could provide wing depth with defense and outside shooting.
Warriors fill a need at wing by getting Cincinnati’s Evans with No. 28 pick
OAKLAND » With a star-studded lineup that has won three NBA championships in the past four years, theWarriors drew boos fromfans on NBA draft night when commissioner Adam Silver touted the team’s recent greatness. To the Warriors’ delight and everyone else’s dismay, they still found another way to upgrade their roster.
It did not require theWarriors to have a pitch meeting at theHamptons as they did during free agency with Kevin Durant two years ago. Instead, it entailed the Warriors leaning on their talent evaluation.
The Warriors selected Cincinnati junior for- ward Jacob Evans III with the No. 28 pick of the draft on Thursday, a move that improved the team’s wing depth, perimeter defense and adds another dependable outside shooter. The Warriors then spent the rest of the evening trying to buy a second-round pick. Unlike when they bought the rights to the No. 38 pick for the past two years, the Warriors did not buy a secondround pick. Teams said no.
“We tried. We were pretty aggressive in the second round in a couple of different spots,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. “A lot of teams coveted these picks. But Joe (Lacob) was active, and we were aggressive. A couple of times we thought we had something and a player we liked wound up being taken. But for us, we were
a little more selective.”
The Warriors still addressed one of their offseason needs by selecting Evans, who impressed the Warriors in two predraft workouts in various ways. They like his perimeter defense, including his rotations and hustle. They also saw a capable outside shooter after he averaged 11.7 points a game and finishing fifth in school history in 3-point shooting (37.7 percent). And Myers touted Evans’ ability to play point guard, shooting guard or small forward.
“When our pick was up, it was clear it was him,” Myers said. “There was no debate on who we were taking.”
The Warriors could have chosen from various wing prospects, including Tulane senior forwardMichael Frazier Jr., Duke freshman guard Gary Trent Jr., Oregon senior forward MiKyle McIntosh and Ohio State senior forward Keita BatesDiop. But the Warriors became impressed with Evans, whoworked out for the Warriors last Tuesday after the team’s championship parade and on Wednesday. Myers also watched Evans in person during his junior season with the Bearcats. That led Myers to call Evans a “solid player,” “a serious player” and “defensive minded.”
“I don’t think Steve (Kerr) is going to have any problem putting him out there,” Myers said. “He seems like a hard worker and will get better.”
Those qualities resonated well withWarriors forward Draymond Green, who sat with the team’s front office in the draft room after observing pre- draft workouts this week. Green offered his perspective on college prospects and spoke with Evans on the phone after he was selected.
“Draymond said this kid knows how to play,” Myers said. “It was good to have him. For him to have a peek behind the curtain for what we do and have an appreciation for it and what goes into drafting one player and all the hours you spend in watching college games. He was respectful of the process.”
Although the Warriors had maintained they would follow the old adage in selecting the best player available, they entered the draft with hope to shore up their wing depth for multiple reasons. A left knee injury caused veteran Andre Iguodala to miss time in the playoffs, and the Warriors will likely have to manage Iguodala’s minor ailments and minutes during the 2018-19 season. The Warriors are unsure if secondyear forward Patrick McCawwill stay as a restricted free agent. And the Warriors have not yet finalized if they will have any players on two-way contract, including Chris Boucher.
The Warriors plan to introduce Evans in a press conference on Monday morning at their practice facility so he can share his sentiments about the Warriors drafting him and how he might fit in on a championship-caliber roster. Myers predicted good things on Evans, who will play with the Warriors’ summer league team in Sacra- mento (July 2-5) and Las Vegas (July 6-17).
“My playing style is getting after it and getting under guys’ skin,” said Evans. “I’m doing everything and being that tough guy on the court. I try to bring that.”
Evans, with a 6-foot- 6, 210-pound frame, was described as a winner by Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin.
“With a guy like this, you’re very comfortable,” Myers said. “He’s not going to be there right away, but he has the potential, and he showed it in college. So when he’s got a guy he’s guarding, you’re comfortable. That’s what you want from my position as a team.”