2019 NBA Mock Draft: Re-evaluating the top prospects
Jarrett Culver. 6. player. 66. . G/F. Texas Tech
It’s not the point guard Phoenix is dreaming of, but if they choose to address the position via trade or free agency and roll things over to 2020 to find a younger option, Culver is the perfect player to add to the Suns’ roster.
A rewatch of Gonzaga-Texas Tech from the regional final round of March Madness showed as much:
- As Culver continues to rework his slow, mechanical jump shot, his energy off the ball will boost his ability to contribute offensively early in his career. Coach Chris Beard had him buzzing around the halfcourt when he didn’t have the ball — cutting, darting through off-ball screens, posting and re-posting. If and how he scales that energy to the NBA will be fascinating.
- In a game full of switching, Culver ended up on both Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke in the post over the course of the game and defended fairly well. It’s unlikely that will be the case against NBA big men, but if he can hold up against bigger wings and forwards, that will be nice for a rangy team like Phoenix.
- Speaking of the post, however, it’s going to be a long time before Culver can create good shots from there in the pros. He is clumsy and indecisive, nearly always trying to create space for his jumper (and not hiding that strategy well). Whatever size and length advantage he has against other guards is useless the way he plays in the post.
- You have to watch really hard sometimes to see NBA-level passing ability. For the Red Raiders, Culver’s job was mostly to score in isolation, meaning we rarely saw much traditional playmaking out of him in pick-and-roll or transition situations.
If the Suns are confident enough to give legit minutes to a Devin Booker-Jarrett Culver duo in the backcourt next season, it would certainly be captivating television.