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Can Jeremy Evans Make an Impact?

The Dallas Mavericks have made a number of moves and acquisitions this summer for players who have the opportunity to make an impact for the team. Many of these players are ready to jump in the game and help immediately, others have a lot to prove before they get on the court, and then there are a few that just seem to be a question mark.

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One of those question marks in my eyes is one that hasn’t been a very publicized addition to the team. In fact, a lot of us may not even remember the fact that we added him to the roster over 2 months ago. The player I am referring to is former member of the Utah Jazz and 2012 dunk contest champion, Jeremy Evans.

Evans was a very seldom used player during his tenure in Utah mainly stemming from being a backup for both Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors but also due to his undeniably raw skill set that could still use some honing. So why will he be a better fit in Dallas?

VERSATILITY: The Dallas Mavericks have an undeniable void at the small forward position behind Chandler Parsons and, with the current unknown state of his injury, we are even thinner than before. The current options we have at small forward are starting a first-round, unproven rookie, try small ball with someone like John Jenkins playing the 3, or turning to a still raw and unknown in Jeremy Evans.

I believe that Evans deserves his chance to crack the lineup partly due to the fact that he is capable of playing the small forward and power forward positions. With this versatility and the lack of depth at the 3, the Mavs should be able to utilize him coming off the bench to give Pasons and Dirk a spell while we run the ball with a 2nd five that could really cause fits for some teams.

ATHLETICISM: Its no secret that Jeremy Evans is a freak athlete. He has a vertical of over 45 inches and, with his height and length, can jump to a height of 12’9”. With this kind of explosion, Evans can be a serious player if he develops a little more of his game under Rick Carlisle.

The Dallas Mavericks have managed to find a place for different players throughout our organization but some of them have excelled in their own niche area on the court. Evans could have a chance with his athleticism to be a solid wing/post defender while also a threat above the rim for a lob here and there. It may take the Mavs some time to find the right area for his raw athleticism but, if we get it right, he could be a great contributor off the bench.

Feb 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans (40) goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 92-76. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

ENERGY: Watching any highlights from Jeremy Evans, you can see that he is a player fueled by his energy. He hasn’t been given the minutes he would like, but when he does get in, he tends to make them count getting big rebounds, put-back dunks, and catching lobs at a variety of angles.

With his tenacity on the court, Jeremy Evans at his best could become a shell of what we had with Al-Farouq Aminu last year. Evans doesn’t have the shooting ability or the proven shut-down defensive ability, but he does come with the athletic tools and the energetic nature to be impactful on both ends of the court on a smaller scale but comparative to Aminu.

All things considered, I believe that the Mavericks made a great move in picking up Jeremy Evans and I am excited to see what he is capable of this year.

For more on Evans click here.

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