#ProTops: Talkin’ Jeremy Evans With Peachtree Hoops’ Brad Rowland
I got my blogging start on FanSided with the WKU site, Wave The Red Towel, and once I was on the FS network, I tried to do as much writing…
I got my blogging start on FanSided with the WKU site, Wave The Red Towel, and once I was on the FS network, I tried to do as much writing and join as many blogs as I possibly could.
That lead me to writing for the “locals,” site, ATL All Day, where I got to write about all of my favorite Atlanta teams. The man at the helm was Brad Rowland, who is now (and was then, too) with SBNation’s Peachtree Hoops (as well as Talking Chop and several other places), the network’s Atlanta Hawks site.
Why bring all of this up? Well, former Hilltopper Jeremy Evans recently inked a deal with the Hawks, and with as smart a Hawks and basketball mind as Brad is, I couldn’t not ask if he’d answer some questions for us.
Luckily for all of us, he obliged. Enjoy.
The Towel Rack: The Hawks are going through a rebuild? A collapse? Anyway you put it, the Hawks aren’t expected to do too well this year. But what happened roster wise from last year’s team to this year’s to warrant a spot being available for Evans?
Brad Rowland: It’s certainly a rebuild. The Hawks, in conjunction with Paul Millsap hitting free agency at age 32, finally decided that it was time to look in another direction and here we are. That overarching choice led to a bunch of roster turnover and, while most of the focus is on the future, it opens up some competition for the last couple of roster spots.
TTR: Last year, Evans went from the Pacers to Europe and, uh, didn’t exactly star (he played in two games overseas, according to Basketball-Reference). So, I guess flat out, what do the Hawks see in Evans and what are they hoping to get?
BR: I would imagine the Hawks see a seasoned NBA player that is still a tremendous athlete. As you noted, he wasn’t around a season ago but Evans is, of course, a former Slam Dunk champion and a guy that played a real role for Utah over several years. He’s certainly athletic enough to be a “small ball” power forward in today’s NBA and, even if he isn’t a flawless player by any means, having another quality athlete around for competition is usually a good thing.
TTR: What are your thoughts on Evans, if any, outside of his sweet dunks?
BR: The dunks are the appeal for most people but Evans has always been an efficient finisher around the rim. He’s something of a tweener because of his slight frame but Evans’ length allows him to finish over the opposition and he’s been a good rim protector and shot blocker in the past as well.
TTR: When news first broke, I excitedly sent you a tweet and you didn’t seem positive that Evans would be in a Hawks uni come mid-October. Why is that?
BR: The Hawks really have kind of a log-jam. Atlanta is carrying the maximum of 20 players right now and, by Opening Night, they have to cut to 15. Before they expanded the roster (with Evans as a part of that expansion), it looked as if the Hawks already had a pretty solid 15-man group and it would take some unexpected movement to really clear a spot. It should be said, though, that there are a few non-guaranteed contracts to work with so, if Evans impresses, all hope isn’t lost.
TTR: Is this Evans’ last shot in the NBA?
BR: It might be but not necessarily. He’ll be 30 in late October and, for a player heavily reliant on athletic burst, that could be a tough ask. The biggest question, at least for me, is if Evans has been able to (or will be able to) develop an outside shooting stroke that will allow him to age more gracefully. If he does that, the door remains open. If not, it’s tough.
TTR: Best case scenario for Evans this year, be it with the Hawks or elsewhere?
BR: It’s hard for me to see Evans cracking an NBA rotation but, if he plays well in Hawks training camp, there is no reason to think he couldn’t land somewhere else in the league if Atlanta cuts him late in the process. I’m quite confident that, if nothing else, Evans will get a look in the G-League and that isn’t a bad option either to stick around and keep your profile locally.
I’d like to thank Brad, once again, for joining us and answering some questions. He was a pleasure to write for and I miss working with him and the rest of the ATL All Day crew each day.
If you want to give him a follow (which I highly recommend) on the Twitter, he’s at @BTRowland. Also, be sure to check out Peachtree Hoops (@peachtreehoops), especially as Evans moves forward with the Hawks as training camp nears.