Currently possessing the fifth overall selection in next week’s NBA draft, the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers are taking a look at as many potential draftees as possible.
A new report indicates that on Monday, the team had a private workout with Texas Tech University guard Jarrett Culver and later had dinner with him.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com indicated that the dinner is part of the Cavaliers’ overall drafting process:
“Culver, one of a few players in the mix for the Cavaliers’ No. 5 pick, also had dinner with key members of the organization — general manager Koby Altman, assistant GM Mike Gansey, head coach John Beilein and assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff. When given enough time, the Cavs consider the dinners and sit-downs a valuable opportunity for the braintrust to get know the prospect as a person and gauge how he would fit into the culture they are trying to instill.”
Playing two seasons at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-5 Culver averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists during the 2018-19 season. Those numbers were all improvements over his freshman campaign, while his shooting percentage from the field also saw a slight uptick at 46.1 percent.
The Cavaliers closely watched Culver during the past season as he played a key role in helping the Red Raiders reach the national title game. Beilein saw too much of him in a Sweet 16 contest as Culver’s 22 points helped eliminate his University of Michigan squad.
Other possible candidates for the Cavs with that fifth pick include Duke University’s Cam Reddish, University of Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter and Vanderbilt University’s Darius Garland. The Cavaliers also have the 26th overall pick in the draft and are looking at the possibility of acquiring more picks.
