Minnesota Timberwolves: Jarrett Culver impressing in camp
By Andrew Ites
The performance of Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Jarrett Culver is one of the top storylines at this year’s training camp, and it sounds like he’s hit the ground running.
The Minnesota Timberwolves sent their 11th overall pick and Dario Saric to Phoenix to slide into the sixth spot in this year’s draft to select Texas Tech star Jarrett Culver.
That trade up to snag Culver shows us that the Wolves had him extremely high on their board and were willing to give up an asset to go get him.
We entered training camp not knowing what type of role Culver would have as a rookie.
He enters the league with two years of experience at the college level, but there are certain aspects of his game and his body that need to develop to deliver on that sixth overall selection.
We got an encouraging report on Culver’s progress from new head coach Ryan Saunders saying he’s been impressed by the rookie wingman at training camp:
"“I’ll say Jarrett Culver,” said Saunders when asked who’s stood out early in camp. “He’s definitely made some plays that make you look around and say wow. Now those might be normal plays for someone who’s been in the league, but for a rookie in his first couple of days, it was impressive.”"
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Saunders made sure not to go overboard in praising Culver by adding the phrase “for a rookie in his first couple of days,” but these are certainly the type of quotes we want to hear throughout the preseason regarding the star rookie.
There is an open competition for the fifth starting spot in the lineup alongside Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Robert Covington, and Karl-Anthony Towns, and Culver has as good a shot as any to claim that starting job by opening night.
He’ll be facing from stiff competition from fellow wings Jake Layman and Josh Okogie, and there is always the possibility that Saunders goes with Jordan Bell or Noah Vonleh in a bigger and more conventional starting lineup with another big man next to KAT.
Next. 3 goals for Jarrett Culver. dark
Whether Culver plays well enough in the preseason to earn that starting spot or he begins the year with a role on the bench, it will be exciting to watch his development as the Wolves hope he can be their secondary star of the future to pair with Karl-Anthony Towns.