2018 NBA Mock Draft: The lottery is done and the order is set

Though Portland is reportedly the only team so far to host Evans for an interview at this week’s combine, I honestly wonder if he’ll be there waiting for them. Evans’s versatility and reputation coming from a defense-first school is too intriguing to pass up for teams earlier in the draft who covet that type of player.

Think about the teams in this range, such as Milwaukee, Minnesota, Phoenix and of course Utah, who have high-usage wings that need complementary defenders and ball-handlers around them to be successful. While Portland surely sees Evans’s ability to balance their guard rotation beside CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, I think the Jazz have too sharp an eye for two-way talent to pass Evans up.

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Evans measured at 6-5.5 with a 6-9.25 wingspan. Those aren’t going to put him in company with the most athletic bodies in the draft, but considering his muscular physique and high skill level, he’s not going to be forgotten, either.

While Igor Kokoskov and the Utah staff did an unbelievable job turning Ricky Rubio into a productive offensive piece this year, someone like Evans makes much more sense next to rookie Donovan Mitchell. The junior had nearly twice as many assists as turnovers, shot the ball well, and disposed of countless scoring guards over the course of the season.

Utah is ready to unlock him.