Isaiah Evans landing spots: Timberwolves, Nuggets lead list of candidates to select Duke sharpshooter after draft slide

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Isaiah Evans landing spots: Timberwolves, Nuggets lead list of candidates to select Duke sharpshooter after draft slide originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Isaiah Evans was the lone man left watching from the green room when the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft ended.

The Duke guard was widely believed to be a first-round talent heading into the draft, blessed with an eye-catching jumper that ranked as one of college basketball's best during his two-year stint in Durham.

Evans had his detractors — his physical profile was fairly underwhelming, feeding concerns that he'd struggle to guard at the NBA level. Nevertheless, his shot-making sizzled — so much so that the league felt compelled to invite him to its signature event.

Evans is licking his chops after his first-round snub. Still, there are a handful of teams that could benefit from his services. Here's a look at some sides that could take a closer look at Evans at the start of the second round.

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Isaiah Evans landing spots​

Minnesota Timberwolves​

The Timberwolves were one of the NBA's best shooting sides in 2026, boasting a 37% three-point field goal percentage in 2025-26, the sixth-best mark in the league. Minnesota will be without one of its best marksman during the 2026-26 season, however, with Donte DiVincenzo slated to miss the campaign with a torn Achilles.

Evans has his flaws — he is prone to defensive lapses and offers little outside of shooting skills. He's also lacking physically, posting a measly 27-inch standing vertical and the second-slowest lane agility time at this year's combine.

Still, his shooting pops. He touts one of his draft classes' most-fluid jumpers, showing a penchant for long-range attempts in movement. Minnesota could do worse than land this sharp-shooting trebuchet, especially for the cost of a lowly second-round pick.

MORE: Grading every pick in the NBA Draft

Denver Nuggets​

Evans seems a natural fit with the Nuggets and their talismanic presence in the paint, Nikola Jokic. Denver's ideal setup has largely revolved around surrounding Jokic — one of the sport's greatest-ever passers — with shooters and floor spaces. Evans meets that description to a tee. He projects as a plus shooter at the next level — a useful attribute for a side that saw its shooting fall of a cliff during the postseason.

Houston Rockets​

The Rockets we're quietly one of the better three-point shooting sides during the 2025-26 season, sinking more than 36% of their attempts. They just didn't take many; Houston attempted just 31.5 triples per game, the third-lowest mark in basketball. While the numbers suggest the Rockets can space the floor, reality paints a different picture. Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Alperen Sengun are all negatives when it comes to floor spacing.

Kevin Durant is inevitable as a shooter and scorer and Reed Sheppard made some strides in his second year. Still, Houston doesn't have a whole lot in the form of sharp-shooting. Evans, a gifted movement shooter with a burgeoning offensive toolkit off the dribble, could offer a bit of dynamism to a Rockets' attack that looked rather predictable during the postseason.

MORE: Who are the best players available in Round 2 of the 2026 NBA Draft?

New York Knicks​

Could the rich get richer in the Big Apple? After spurning the first round of the draft, New York could land a splash in Evans. The Knicks are spoiled with shooting in the form of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet. The latter's deal runs out after the season, although it's certainly reasonable that Mike Brown and Co. would want him back.

Ultimately, Evans represents a cheap option to bolster New York's shooting depth. He might not be the finished article. But the Knicks don't necessarily need that, particularly if the likes of Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet develop.

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