Because there are people who think he's still growing (despite being 20 already) and that he'll potentially hit 6'10. If you think that? I think there's an argument to take him above Morant and Barrett on upside, yeah.

He's obviously older than Barrett-- who's supposed to be a HS senior this year. He isn't as strong as Barrett, isn't quite as athletic as Barrett. Culver is probably the better ball handler (though both need improvement here) and probably the better shooter (though both need improvement here). Barrett is, imo, higher motor, one of the highest motor prospects in the draft-- if he wasn't on a team with Zion, the highest motor high-level prospect that maybe we've ever seen, more people would talk about this. I'd guess Culver is the better defender, though TT runs such a system defense that it's hard to tell (Barrett is also underrated as a defender because he shares the court with three of the best defenders in the draft).

This runs the risk of being reductive, but Barrett is also just a goddamn winner. I'm not even talking about Duke right now. I mean, I can point you to that U-19 game in which he and a bunch of dudes beat a USA team packed with All-American candidates and future NBA players. Led them to the gold. And routinely this season, when Duke needs a big basket, he's the guy. People give him a hard time for dribbling into traffic in the Gonzaga game and occasionally taking 3s too quickly into the shot clock, but he's hit so many big shots that you've got to take the ones that don't fall imo. I'd rather have the guy who *loves* the big moment and occasionally fucks up than the guy who shies away from it. He was the USA Today National Player of the Year *over Zion* because he does everything.

If you think Culver is what he is height-wise-- maybe around 6'8-- then I think he's a Khris Middleton kind of dude. ASG potential, especially in today's game. If you think he gets to 6'10, that obviously makes his upside even higher, and he becomes a guy you can build around. So he's an easy Top 5 pick imo.

But Barrett? Barrett's the type of guy I can see becoming the next Tracy McGrady. Just never stops, always aggressive, always playmaking. He'll bump his shooting percentages up a bit, tighten that handle, and make multiple All-Star teams. I think you build around him right away.

My draft order today:
1. Zion
2. RJ
3. Ja
4. Hunter
5. Culver

If you think Culver will hit 6'10, I could argue taking him as high as second... though that feels a touch gamble-y.