Golden State Warriors: 5 reasons Jacob Evans was a good pick

4. Skilled passer

The most underrated part of Jacob Evans’ game would be his passing and playmaking. Generally, this is a skill expected from point guards and praised in bigs, but largely neglected in wings. It should not be, as Evans has the skill-set to be an effective secondary playmaker for the Warriors.

Evans averaged 3.1 assists per game for the Bearcats, first on a team where there was not one primary ball-handler and five players averaged at least 2.0 assists. While the total assist number may seem mediocre, it undersells his ability to create plays and put his teammates in a position to score.

Evans was effective in the pick-and-roll game, displaying the patience to make the best play. He would wait for defenders to commit to him and then hit the screener — either on the roll or the pop — for an open shot. Another skill he has is looking off a defender, then hitting his teammates through a window that suddenly opened up.

To expect Evans to be the lead ball-handler on an NBA team is too much; he did not have that role in Cincinnati and he should not at the next level. But he can move the ball, create off of close-outs, and fit in snugly with a Warriors offense focused on ball movement and smart passes.