According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Knicks hosted a group workout for draft prospects that included Duke guard Isaiah Evans. The World Champion Knicks are considering how best to use the 24th, 31st, and 55th picks in next week’s draft.
Evans is a 6-foot-6 wing from North Carolina who arrived at Duke as one of the top shooting prospects in his recruiting class.
Advertisement
After a limited freshman season, Evans broke out as a sophomore in 2025-26. He averaged 15 points per game and shot 38% from three-point range at Duke. During the Blue Devils’ NCAA Tournament run, he averaged 18.9 points per game.
Evans’ appeal begins with his shooting. He is one of the best perimeter shooters in this draft class, capable of stretching defenses well beyond the three-point line thanks to his deep range and quick release. He is particularly dangerous moving without the ball, whether coming off screens, positioning around the perimeter, or finding open space in transition. He possesses good size for an NBA wing, allowing him to play either shooting guard or small forward. Defensively, he remains a work in progress, but scouts have noted steady improvement in his team defense and overall awareness. Long term, he projects as a floor-spacing 3-and-D wing who can provide shooting, secondary scoring, and complementary defense alongside high-usage teammates.
For a Knicks team built around the gravity of Jalen Brunson and the interior scoring of Karl-Anthony Towns, Evans is the kind of prospect who could deliver some cost-controlled offensive juice with the second unit.
With the draft looming, the Knicks were active behind the scenes during their Finals run, bringing in multiple prospects for pre-draft workouts. Reports have connected them to several names, including:
Advertisement
Meleek Thomas (Arkansas) — athletic scoring guard with defensive upside.
Ebuka Okorie (Stanford)— productive scorer who can create offense.
Chris Cenac Jr. (Houston) — athletic big man who has appeared in multiple Knicks mock-draft projections.
Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan)— physical frontcourt player who has also been linked to New York in mock drafts.
Begley’s report indicates Evans was part of a group workout, which is normal for teams drafting in the 20s and early second round as they compare several similarly graded prospects side by side.
The bigger takeaway from the Knicks’ workout list is that they appear focused on three archetypes: shooting wings, defensive combo guards, and young frontcourt depth.
Advertisement
A guy like Evans makes sense. The Knicks are expensive, deep, and coming off a title. They don’t need a developmental point guard. They need players who can help off the bench. If the front office believes backup-big minutes remain a more pressing long-term need, someone like Chris Cenac Jr. or Morez Johnson Jr. could be attractive.
Of course, Leon Rose has a history of consolidating assets. Will the Knicks use all three picks, bundle them in a swap for a higher spot, or move some (or all) of them for better options in next year’s draft? Let the intrigue commence.
Go Knicks!
