Minnesota Paid No. 11 and Šarić to Get Culver
Minnesota's draft-night move was straightforward once the moratorium ended: Phoenix sent the rights to Jarrett Culver, the No. 6 pick, for Dario Šarić and the rights to Cameron Johnson at No. 11. Culver had just led Texas Tech to the national championship game and arrived with a plausible two-way wing case, so moving up five spots was defensible as a prospect bet. The problem is the price became two useful NBA assets, while Culver never developed into the high-end starter Minnesota was chasing.
Culver Was Gone After 97 Games
Culver's Timberwolves tenure lasted only two seasons. He appeared in 97 games with 42 starts, averaging 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists before Minnesota traded him with Juancho Hernangómez to Memphis in August 2021 for Patrick Beverley. Minnesota did recover a useful veteran in the later deal, but Culver himself had already fallen well short of the value expected from the No. 6 pick. That short runway is the central reason the original move-up earns the canonical D.
Phoenix Got a Shooter and an Immediate Rotation Forward
The Suns turned the No. 6 slot into two contributors. Šarić played 153 regular-season games for Phoenix across three active seasons, starting 67, and was part of the 2021 team that reached the NBA Finals before an ACL injury cost him the entire 2021-22 season. Johnson played 200 regular-season games for Phoenix, shot 39.0 percent from three as a rookie and reached 42.5 percent in 2021-22, when he finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. The combined on-court return already dwarfed Culver's Minnesota production.
Johnson Eventually Became Part of the Kevin Durant Price
Johnson's value did not end with his Suns minutes. In February 2023, Phoenix included him with Mikal Bridges, four first-round picks and a future swap in the package that brought Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren from Brooklyn. The Durant trade had many larger components, so Johnson should not be credited with the entire acquisition, but his inclusion shows the level of asset value he retained after three-plus seasons in Phoenix. Minnesota's No. 6 selection never approached that combination of production, team success and later trade utility.
Final Verdict
Suns Win — Minnesota D, Phoenix A. Minnesota surrendered Dario Šarić and Cameron Johnson's draft rights at No. 11 to move up for Jarrett Culver at No. 6. Culver lasted 97 games and two seasons with the Timberwolves before being moved in the Patrick Beverley trade. Phoenix received 153 regular-season games from Šarić and 200 from Johnson, with both contributing to the 2021 Finals-era roster; Johnson later became part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant package. The original gamble on Culver was understandable, but the completed value on the Phoenix side is overwhelmingly stronger.