Former Duke basketball standout Isaiah Evans has officially taken the next step, signing his rookie contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Evans is one of three Blue Devils who heard their names called in the 2026 NBA Draft this past June, joining Cameron Boozer and Maliq Brown. Boozer went No. 3 overall, while Evans and Brown both had to wait until the second round.
For Evans, the draft slide came after some analysts had pegged him as a possible first-round pick, with talk that he could sneak into the back end of the opening round. Instead, he landed in the early second round, where Minnesota picked him up via trade.
Per , Evans’ deal is for four years and $9.3 million, with three fully guaranteed seasons. The Timberwolves also hold a team option on the fourth year.
That second-round drop did cost him some money, but the guaranteed portion gives him a solid start to his pro career. If he performs early, a future extension could be in play.
He’ll also be joining a Timberwolves team that already knows what the postseason looks like. With Anthony Edwards leading the way, Minnesota has reached the playoffs in recent years, though the franchise still hasn’t broken through to the NBA Finals.
Evans is not expected to have a major role right away. The plan appears to be getting him settled first, then seeing if he can carve out minutes off the bench.
At Duke, Evans spent two seasons with the Blue Devils and played in 74 games, starting 41. He started all 38 games last season. Over those two years, he averaged 11 points per game and shot 38 percent from three-point range.
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