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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Jawun Evans?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 9, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) shoots as Iowa State Cyclones guard Nazareth Mitrou-Long (15) looks on in the first half during the Big 12 Championship Tournament at Sprint Center. Iowa State won 92-83. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) shoots as Iowa State Cyclones guard Nazareth Mitrou-Long (15) looks on in the first half during the Big 12 Championship Tournament at Sprint Center. Iowa State won 92-83. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Good

When it comes to offensive ability, Evans is right up there with the other point guards in this draft. He averaged 19.2 points per game last year, getting to the line for 6.0 free throws per game. That showed an ability to get into the paint and draw contact, important skillsfor a modern point guard.

He is a confident shooter, making 37.9 percent of his 3-pointers on 3.0 attempts per game.

Evans seems to have the complete package offensively. Especially for a modern point guard.

Give him some space, he will step back and hit the jumper confident. Let him get downhill or isolate him, and he will get into the paint and cause the defense to collapse. Collapse on him, and he can dish out and make a play for the next man.

Evans’ offensive game is not limited to his scoring. He averaged 6.4 assists per game and posted a 43.6 percent assist rate. It was his second straight year with an assist rate greater than 40 percent. This with a 32.7 percent usage rate.

Oklahoma State put the ball in his hands and let him create. He carried that heavy burden well. The Cowboys were a tournament team.

He did all this while keeping his turnovers down — 2.8 per game, which is good considering his high usage. Evans is a quintessential point guard in that way. He

Evans is a quintessential point guard in that way. He can survey the court and attack it, able to get into the paint. That is the big task for a point guard in the NBA today — get past the initial wave of the defense and force teams into help situations. Then all he has to do is be able to get the ball back out to the perimeter.

Evans has a variety of moves that get him into the paint. That is where he made his living throughout the last season. And clearly, the scoring was good for him.