Report: Suns ‘extremely high’ on Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver in NBA Draft
Jun 11, 2019, 10:53 AM | Updated: 11:03 am
Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
With a little over a week to go until the big day, it has been quiet on the NBA Draft front for the Phoenix Suns.
They’ve held three days of pre-draft workouts, which totaled 36 prospects, but none of those was a consensus top-20 player in the draft class.
It appears Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke stopped by, thanks to his Instagram.
Brandon Clarke was at the Suns’ facility presumably for a private workout. Phoenix also met with Clarke at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
Even though it would be perceived by some as a reach, Clarke is the best fit for immediate impact at No. 6. pic.twitter.com/2lIc2aHL1L
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 10, 2019
Other than that, though, there hasn’t been buzz from Phoenix as to who they are interested in or even working out in consideration for the No. 6 pick.
We do know they reportedly traveled to Lubbock to work out Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver and the links between the two have continued.
Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo reports the Suns are fans of the wing.
According to league sources, the Suns are known to be extremely high on Jarrett Culver, and while [the sixth] spot is his realistic floor, he may not make it this far.
Culver, 20, was the Red Raiders’ leader in points (18.5), rebounds (6.3) and assists (3.7) per game as a sophomore. As a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Texas Tech made a run all the way to the NCAA Championship where they fell to Virginia in overtime.
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In his latest mock draft, Woo has Culver going one spot earlier to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Woo notes the Suns’ logjam on the wing and has the Suns going with North Carolina guard Coby White.
According to reports, the Suns have been weighing trading this pick, but it does seem likely that either White or Darius Garland will be available at this spot, which would give them a chance to address their long-standing hole at point guard. Given the Suns’ intention to keep Kelly Oubre and the presence of Mikal Bridges, Phoenix would be better off trying a long-term solution at guard here than adding to their glut of forwards, which also includes T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson. White’s outside shooting, developing playmaking skills and size that might allow him to defend both backcourt spots would be a strong fit next to Devin Booker.
Arizona Sports’ NBA Mock Draft Tracker has Culver, Garland and White as the three most common names landing in Phoenix through mock drafts. Garland went to the Suns in seven of the last 15 mock drafts tracked.
