CHARLOTTE — When P.J. Carlesimo decided it was time to give Mirza Teletovic a chance to earn some minutes, that meant either Reggie Evans or Kris Humphries was headed out of the rotation.
Based off the success the Nets have had with Evans starting at power forward since Carlesimo took over as interim head coach, that left Humphries as the odd man out.
“Our starting lineup … I’m not saying the group is perfect, but we’re nine over .500, pretty much with this group starting,” Carlesimo told The Post Wednesday night after the Nets beat the Bobcats, 99-78.
While Evans finished with 16 rebounds and Teletovic was active in 14 minutes — the vast majority coming in the first half — Humphries found himself rooted to the bench, which he didn’t move from for the full 48 minutes.
That’s a place where Humphries will be expected to stay for at least the short term. Carlesimo said he expects to try this out through at least the next four or five games, and then go from there.
The decision completes a stunning fall since the start of the season for Humphries, who went from starting 20 games in the first two months of the season to suddenly finding himself all the way at the end of the bench after averaging a double-double each of the past two seasons and signing a two-year, $24 million contract last summer.
But, in the end, Carlesimo needed to sit either Evans or Humphries to get a proper look at Teletovic, whom the Nets higher-ups want to see more of.
“Somebody had to be out,” Carlesimo said. “[Humphries] started 20 games, and to me, he’s still a known factor. There’s just no way we can get Mirza 12, 15, 18, 20 minutes without taking one of the guys out. Whoever I took out, it wouldn’t be fair, but it’s just reality.”
Humphries politely declined to comment on Carlesimo’s decision after the game.
Ever since being benched by Avery Johnson shortly before his dismissal in late December, and then suffering a strained abdominal muscle and an injured ankle shortly thereafter, Humphries never has found a way to get back on track.
He was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline — the Nets, ironically, could have sent him to Charlotte for shooting guard Ben Gordon, but declined — and now is most valuable to the team as a large expiring contract to peddle in deals this summer or next season.
Though Evans has his faults, particularly offensively — he had gone 2-for-18 in seven games since the All-Star break before last night’s game — he is arguably the league’s best rebounder.
Evans entered last night’s game with the NBA’s best rebounding rate per 48 minutes, and then improved upon it by racking up 16 boards in 27:33, including four on the offensive glass. He also was on the floor for the entire third quarter, when the Nets outscored the Bobcats 28-9 and turned a 53-43 halftime deficit into a 71-62 lead.
“With Reggie, his intensity and his rebounding and his defense is a big part of our success,” Carlesimo said. “Tonight is a perfect example.”
Teletovic did fairly well in his first shot at an extended look. He hit his first shot — a 3-pointer — but finished 1-for-5 from the field, including 1-for-4 from 3-point range and finished with three points.
But while he missed several open looks, he did finish with two rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes. He did a nice job of, in particular, moving the ball on offense, and his 3-point shooting ability should keep the floor spaced for the likes of Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson to operate.
“It felt good,” Teletovic said. “When you sit the whole game and you get in [for the first time] in the fourth quarter, you feel lost.
“But this is different. When you get in game early on, you know what’s going on, how the other team plays and where you have to go, and just play with the guys.”