Story by
Timberwolves Reportedly Sign Former Duke Star to $9.3 Million Contract
- Story by
- Timberwolves Reportedly Sign Former Duke Star to $9.3 Million Contract
(Amber Searls-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed Isaiah Evans to a four-year, $9.3 million contract that includes three fully guaranteed years and a fourth-year team option, according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype.
Evans, the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, was one of the better shooting guards available in his class after spending two seasons at Duke, where he averaged 15.0 points and 3.2 rebounds as a sophomore while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three.
Advertisement
He earned All-ACC Third Team honors and shot 38.0 percent from deep across his college career, converting 163 total threes in 74 games with the Blue Devils.
What Evans Brings to Minnesota
The deal stands out because most second-round picks end up on two-way contracts and spend heavy time in the G League, but Minnesota clearly sees Evans as someone who can contribute sooner than that.
At 6-foot-6 with a 175-pound frame, he fits the mold of a scoring wing who can space the floor and knock down shots off the catch, which is exactly what the Timberwolves need next to Anthony Edwards , who put up 28.8 points per game on 48.9 percent shooting and 39.9 percent from three during the 2025-26 regular season.
Evans' ability to stretch the floor also pairs well with LaMelo Ball , who arrived from Charlotte in a blockbuster trade after averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists in 72 games last season.
Advertisement
Having another wing who can shoot off of Ball's playmaking and Edwards' gravity gives Chris Finch more lineup flexibility than he had a year ago.
His Summer League debut was rough, with Evans going 2-for-15 from the field and 0-for-9 from three against Denver after trade logistics delayed his availability and kept him out of practices and Minnesota's first game.
The Wolves are not sweating one bad outing from a player whose Duke teams went 30-0 in games where he made at least three threes.
A Reshaped Roster
The signing caps off what has been a loaded offseason for the Wolves .
Minnesota finished 49-33 and sixth in the Western Conference last season, upset the Denver Nuggets in six games in the first round and then fell to the San Antonio Spurs in six in the conference semifinals.
Advertisement
The front office responded by trading Julius Randle in a salary-clearing deal and sending Naz Reid to Charlotte for Ball and Josh Green , then locking up Ayo Dosunmu on a five-year extension and bringing back Bones Hyland .
Evans projects as a reserve shooting guard behind Dosunmu and gives Minnesota another young piece who can develop alongside Edwards.
Early draft analysis pointed to him as a potential steal at No. 33, and the guaranteed money shows the front office feels the same way.
If his shooting carries over to the NBA, Evans could earn real minutes on a team that wants to get past the second round next spring.
