Thunderous Intentions
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Could the OKC Thunder trade for Jarrett Culver during NBA Draft?

By Rylan Stiles

Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on January 05, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Jarrett Culver #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on January 05, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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The OKC Thunder control six draft picks, including three in the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft. The Thunder have maximum flexibility ahead of tonight’s draft. Not only with a clean cap sheet, but a plethora of assets at their disposal.

As teams make players available Sam Presti can be first in line to swoop in. Ahead of Thursday’s draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves have made second-year forward Jarrett Culver available.

Could the OKC Thunder trade for Jarrett Culver?

The Wolves are looking for a second-round pick for the former sixth overall pick. With the OKC Thunder controlling the 34th, 36th, and 55th selections in the 2021 NBA Draft. Depending on how the Draft board falls, which is still up in the air right now, it will be hard to find a better value pickup than Culver at pick 36, and especially 55.

Returning the Wolves’ 36th pick to them in exchange for the former first-rounder could make sense for Sam Presti and company.

So why is the Texas Tech product available? Just 97-games into his NBA career, Culver was shut down this season with a season-ending ankle injury that eventually resulted in surgery.

Playing in just 34 of the team’s 72 contests, the 22-year-old only earned seven starts for the T-Wolves. The Lubbock, Texas native averaged five points per game while grabbing three rebounds per contest.

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As a 6’6 guard, Culver has struggled to shoot the three-ball in each of his first two seasons. Turning in a career-low 24-percent from deep this past season. For his career, Culver posts a 28-percent mark from distance with the hope he can improve that clip in year three.

Culver improves his three-point percentage, slightly, when attempting triples in the corner (26-percent).

Ultimately, this decision will come down to the value on the board once the OKC Thunder are put on the clock for the 34th and 36th selections. With Jalen Johnson on a massive draft night slide, and the up in the air range for one of my favorite prospects, Isaiah Todd, it will be interesting to see how the second-round market takes shape.

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