I didn't think Evans was a PG before we drafted him. At this point I'm a little more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt in that regard. He's got the handle to play point so bringing the ball up isn't a problem. We know he can get into the lane. He absolutely can guard PGs -- that kind of wing span is going to make it tough for even Chris Paul to run around him. But is he going to be able to set up his teammates? I don't really see that happening.
But it doesn't necessarily have to either. He can probably be as good of a facilitator as Tracy McGrady is in Houston (when he's actually healthy) -- and McGrady does rack up assists. Most of those come from the rest of the team standing around and watching while he takes on two defenders, but that type of offense works for Portland and it worked for Miami a couple years ago. There's no rule that a PG has to run pick and roll plays all game and find cutters with bounce passes. Evans could easily post up most PGs in the league and if the defense has to switch or double team to stop him, that alone will create scoring opportunities for other people. That's the offense Cleveland runs too. I don't think it's wise to expect Lebron James passing ability out of Evans, but he doesn't have to be that good for it to work. It's a vastly different type of offense than what we're use to in Sacramento, but it's time for a change anyway isn't it?
Actually, it probably doesn't matter that much which position Evans plays. We drafted him because he's a physically dominant player who can score in bunches and defend. At the very least, Evans gives you options that the other PGs don't.
1) The All-Defense back court. Perhaps we try to get Rondo from Boston for Kevin Martin? Evans fills the scoring role at SG (though his long range shooting will have to get better, which I'm sure it will in time). That backcourt is going to be scary for a couple years as neither guy is much of a threat from distance, but it would also be scary for other guards to play against. Evans plays the Paul Pierce instant offense role and Rondo becomes our set-up guy.
2) Keep Evans at PG and Martin at SG and force the defense to guard one of them one-on-one. Martin wants to work off the ball anyway and having Evans attacking the basket is going to pull in defenders away from Kevin and his golden touch. Plus you have to like what Evans does for Kevin defensively. He becomes the "small" quick guard in the back-court and his lack of strength is less of a glaring weakness.
3) If we get the top pick next year and draft Wall or another top PG prospect falls to us in the future, then Evans becomes the SG. Any of the other PGs in this draft wouldn't have left us with this option and we'd be looking for a trade like Minnesota is right now.
But it doesn't necessarily have to either. He can probably be as good of a facilitator as Tracy McGrady is in Houston (when he's actually healthy) -- and McGrady does rack up assists. Most of those come from the rest of the team standing around and watching while he takes on two defenders, but that type of offense works for Portland and it worked for Miami a couple years ago. There's no rule that a PG has to run pick and roll plays all game and find cutters with bounce passes. Evans could easily post up most PGs in the league and if the defense has to switch or double team to stop him, that alone will create scoring opportunities for other people. That's the offense Cleveland runs too. I don't think it's wise to expect Lebron James passing ability out of Evans, but he doesn't have to be that good for it to work. It's a vastly different type of offense than what we're use to in Sacramento, but it's time for a change anyway isn't it?
Actually, it probably doesn't matter that much which position Evans plays. We drafted him because he's a physically dominant player who can score in bunches and defend. At the very least, Evans gives you options that the other PGs don't.
1) The All-Defense back court. Perhaps we try to get Rondo from Boston for Kevin Martin? Evans fills the scoring role at SG (though his long range shooting will have to get better, which I'm sure it will in time). That backcourt is going to be scary for a couple years as neither guy is much of a threat from distance, but it would also be scary for other guards to play against. Evans plays the Paul Pierce instant offense role and Rondo becomes our set-up guy.
2) Keep Evans at PG and Martin at SG and force the defense to guard one of them one-on-one. Martin wants to work off the ball anyway and having Evans attacking the basket is going to pull in defenders away from Kevin and his golden touch. Plus you have to like what Evans does for Kevin defensively. He becomes the "small" quick guard in the back-court and his lack of strength is less of a glaring weakness.
3) If we get the top pick next year and draft Wall or another top PG prospect falls to us in the future, then Evans becomes the SG. Any of the other PGs in this draft wouldn't have left us with this option and we'd be looking for a trade like Minnesota is right now.
:
