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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 trades for Jarrett Culver

By Dylan Jackson

Jarrett Culver of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Jarrett Culver of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 23: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The New Orleans Pelicans, in case you do not remember, practically owned the 2019 NBA Draft. They ran what happened. To start it off, they selected Zion Williamson with the first overall pick. They then moved the fourth pick to the Atlanta Hawks for a huge package, and proceeded to select Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker with their two first-round picks following Williamson.

This means that the Pelicans essentially had to have done their due diligence on Culver, who the Timberwolves took with the sixth overall pick. And here, in this trade, they add him for a late-2nd round pick and Wes Iwundu.

The basis of this trade would allow the Pelicans to take on Culver while not taking on as much salary as they would have without sending out Iwundu, who is not a factor for their future plans.

The New Orleans Pelicans would be giving up a minimal package while also having enough salary cap flexibility to either match any offer sheet that Lonzo Ball signs or bring in another veteran in general (look at Kyle Lowry).

The Timberwolves obviously add the pick which they could either give a full-time NBA contract or elect to sign their late draftee to a two-way contract. But either way, they would be getting a low-level prospect and Wes Iwundu, who could be a reserve frontcourt player this coming NBA season.

Iwundu has averaged 4.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game on shooting splits of 41/29/80 over the course of his career. The Timberwolves could choose to waive him but he does carry a $1.8 million figure this season.