Indiana Pacers: 3 reasons Tyreke Evans is a good move

2. Evans is versatile

Listed at 6’6″ and 220 pounds, Evans has the size as well as the skill-set to play up to three positions. He is a natural shooting guard, but he can also play point guard and small forward.

Evans can start or come off the bench. He can be the go-to scorer or the primary facilitator. At 28 years old, with nine years of NBA experience under his belt in a variety of situations, he has learned how to change his game to adapt to the rigors and responsibilities of each role.

When the Grizzlies lost starting point guard Mike Conley Jr. to a foot injury in November, Evans’ job changed from a Vinnie Johnson-esque instant scoring wing off the bench to the starting point guard. His playmaking production went up from 3.5 assists per game as a backup to 6.3 assists per game as a starter, with only a slight uptick in minutes and usage.

The Pacers had some solid backcourt play last season, but especially after losing Stephenson, none of Indiana’s returning guards are particularly versatile. Starting point guard Darren Collison is a pure point guard. Oladipo is a true shooting guard. Backup Cory Joseph (6’3″) and first round draft pick Aaron Holiday (6’1″) don’t have the size to play anything but point guard.

Evans brings a multi-positional element to Indiana that gives head coach Nate McMillan more flexibility with lineups and more freedom to adjust against different opponents.