2019 NBA Draft prospect Jarrett Culver could be a seamless fit with Cavs
Though the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20 is rapidly approaching, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the midst of sitting down and meeting with players who are in consideration with the fifth overall pick, and Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver sticks out.
A few names that are floating out there that the Cleveland Cavaliers may select fifth in the 2019 NBA Draft have seemingly been De’Andre Hunter of Virginia, Cam Reddish of Duke, and Jarrett Culver of Texas Tech.
A recent report from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com noted that the Cavaliers’ top brass met with Culver recently and had dinner with the 6-foot-6-and-3/4 (per Tankathon) wing, and our own Dan Gilinsky suggested that exposure may increase the chances that Cleveland takes Culver with their fifth overall pick.
Fedor pointed out in his aforementioned article that, “the Cavs consider the dinners and sit-downs a valuable opportunity for the braintrust to get to know the prospect and gauge how he would fit into the culture they are trying to instill.”
Culver seems to have what the Cavaliers want (and more importantly need) from a top-five pick.
Culver not only has an all-around offensive game where he can score from all three levels, but also possesses excellent defensive instincts and quick hands, and reportedly displays a work ethic you want out of a young NBA player.
As we’ve often touched on, an outstanding work ethic is something the Cleveland Cavaliers have put a premium on when it comes to their rebuild (as evidenced by them being seemingly all-in on Collin Sexton, for example).
This past year at Texas Tech, Culver led his team with 18.5 points per game (on 50.5% effective field goal shooting), which was more than 25.0% of the Red Raiders’ offensive scoring per game (per Sports Reference).
His jump shot, while not perfect, looks relatively-polished in the mid-range area and should only improve from three-point range once he gets more reps at the next level, and current director of player development Mike Gerrity should help with that, as he reportedly has with players such as Cedi Osman and Sexton.
Culver is not only a scorer on the offensive end, but possesses a high basketball IQ and more times than not makes the right play. Often that meant him taking the shot, but he was more than willing to set up a teammate for a great look, too, as was demonstrated by his assist rate of 26.1% in 2018-19 (per Sports Reference).
Even with so much energy spent on the offensive end, Culver did not mail it in on defense.