The Minnesota Timberwolves have selected Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Minnesota acquired the pick in a draft-night trade with the Phoenix Suns for Dario Saric and No. 11.
Culver averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game for the Red Raiders in 2018-19, en route to winning Big 12 Player of the Year and being named a consensus Second-Team All-American. Despite his team's surprising level of success, though, Culver struggled when it mattered most, shooting less than 27 percent from the field in each of the Red Raiders’ final three NCAA Tournament games – including a 5-of-22 performance in Texas Tech’s heartbreaking overtime loss to Virginia in the title game.
Despite his disappointing showing in the latter stages of March Madness, Culver was a lock for the top-five regardless due to just how many boxes he stands to check at the next level should he come anywhere near reaching his potential. At just below 6-foot-7 with solid positional length, he has the physical tools to check multiple positions, and made it clear throughout the pre-draft process that he considers himself an impactful defender at the next level. Culver has natural ball-handling chops, too, and his 30.4 percent mark from beyond the arc last season came on a diet of attempts with a high degree of difficulty. Playing a more confined offensive role in the NBA, he profiles as a reliable long-range shooter in time.
Big guards who can make plays in a pinch, offer defensive versatility, and be counted on to knock down open jumpers have never before been more valuable. Culver possess both the rough outline of that archetype and also the raw talent needed to surpass it, which is why Timberwolves fans should be thrilled about adding him to the fold.
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