The Minnesota Timberwolves are open to moving 2019 top-10 selection Jarrett Culver, according to KSTP reporter Darren Wolfson.
Wolfson reported on his podcast ‘The Scoop w/ Doogie’ that the Timberwolves have Culver available in trade talks for the price of a second-round draft pick.
This, well, it’s a steep fall from the 6th overall pick which Culver was selected with in the 2019 NBA Draft class. Draft busts happen all the time, but that was a more-than-consequential miss for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Culver is had surgery on his right ankle back in 2021 and could absolutely use a fresh start on a team elsewhere in the NBA. There are a few teams that could be interested, but selling Culver, despite what he was touted as years ago, is still tough.
"Wolfson, on his podcast, added that it was “hard to see anyone biting coming off the ankle surgery.”"
Jarrett Culver averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds this past year in 34 games played. Those numbers actually were a regression from the year prior. Culver is also shooting poor splits of 41/25/60 since the beginning of last season.
He's coming off surgery, hasn't shown much in 2 years. Shot needs a lot of work. But do I think a change of scenery will help him greatly? I do. But you'd also be eating into cap space. Not quite as simple as you suggest.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 27, 2021
That is not to say that Culver could not be an NBA-level player elsewhere, but getting in a different environment could be mutually beneficial for he and the Timberwolves.
The expectation in what a trade involving Culver will bring back should be minimal. The Timberwolves are close to the luxury tax line already, and still have a decision to make with pending restricted free agent Jarred Vanderbilt.
A possible deal could involve a future second-round pick from the Timberwolves in addition to Culver, if they were to acquire a mid-to-late second-rounder – since Minnesota does not have any picks this year.
Again, though, it will be interesting to see whether Culver is actually moved – but the notion that the Timberwolves are open to the idea is great for both parties involved.