MINNEAPOLIS— The big names were already lined up Friday to audition for the role of Minnesota point guard, even before the Timberwolves got a welcome surprise.

Tyreke Evans of Memphis decided to forego a solo workout scheduled for Friday afternoon to participate in a spirited morning practice against some of the best point guard prospects in this draft class.
“I just wanted to let people know that I’m not running from nobody and I’m willing to work hard against the top people out there,” Evans said.
When the Timberwolves initially announced the workouts, they said Wake Forest’s Jeff Teague, North Carolina’s Ty Lawson, UCLA’s Jrue Holiday, Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn and Brandon Jennings, who skipped college and played in Italy last season, would be at the morning workout.
Evans was scheduled to participate in a solo workout in the afternoon, which is common for a prospect of his caliber in the weeks leading up to the draft. These workouts are often carefully orchestrated by the prospects and their agents to ensure that the best possible impression is made.
“You see that all the time,” Flynn said. “You look at a guy like Tyreke Evans. Why would he come out here and workout when he’s slated to go so high? I think if you’re just confident in your abilities, you’ll go against anybody.”
There’s no shortage of confidence with Evans.
After meeting with new Wolves president David Kahn over dinner on Thursday night, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Evans decided he wanted to go toe-to-toe with the smaller, quicker, more traditional point guards in the group.
“From 1 to 10 I think I did a 10,” Evans said. “I handled myself well with the ball, I showed them what I can do and I think they were pretty happy with what I did today.”
There is some debate whether Evans, whose move to point guard during last season propelled Memphis to a 27-game winning streak and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, is better suited to play the shooting guard or the point guard in the NBA.
“I’m a player,” Evans said. “I get that question asked a lot, whether I’m a point guard or a two guard. I’ll do a good job at either position.”
If Evans can succeed at the point, he would be ideal for the rebuilding Timberwolves, who have a smaller shooting guard in the 6-4 Randy Foye. The Wolves hold the No. 6 pick in Thursday’s draft, and Kahn has said they could trade up as well.
Evans’ decision to practice with the rest of the group made an impression.
“It tells me that he’s a competitive kid,” said Kahn, who added that a report that broadcaster Mark Jackson was the favorite for the team’s coaching vacancy was completely false.
The Timberwolves’ greatest needs heading into this draft are a shot-blocking center to complement Al Jefferson in the post and a playmaking point guard to run an up-tempo offense.
If they do go point guard — either with the No. 6 pick or with one of their other two first-round picks at No. 18 or 28 — it is conceivable that one of the players in this group could be the guy.
“This was by far the best workout I’ve been in,” Flynn said. “Every player out there is a top point guard. You have the top point guards in college basketball all out there at one time. That really brings out the best in the guys out here.”