Rockets: 3 trades to send P.J. Tucker to the Timberwolves

3. Houston Rockets receive Jarrett Culver, two 2nd-round picks

In this first trade proposal the Timberwolves acquire Tucker without giving up anything significant, as they send two future second-round picks to the Rockets, while also sending Texas native Jarrett Culver, who has received slightly less playing time in his second season than he did as a rookie.

Culver has been viewed by many as a bust, as he was selected by the Wolves with the sixth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft position thus far. The 6-foot-6 Culver is averaging 8.1 points and five rebounds this season and has shown the ability to create offense for himself, while also proving that he can be a solid defensive presence in spurts.

Culver is still just 20-years-old and oozes with potential, which was evident after his first two games in 2020-21, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds, while making 61.5 percent of his shots, 75 percent of his threes (3-of-4), and posting true shooting splits of 74.9 percent. The former Big 12 Player of the Year has been marred with inconsistency, as evident by the fact that he went scoreless on 0-for-10 in a earlier game against the LA Clippers, followed by a 20-point performance just four days later on 8-of-13.

The Rockets receive a young prospect who is still developing his game and could provide offensive production off the second unit, while getting multiple second-round draft picks that could be packaged down the road, for Tucker, who would likely bolt for free agency at the end of the season.

Next: No. 2