The Case for Towns

[Lipoli390]

What seems puzzling to me is that any leaks should be in place to give the wolves something, otherwise there is no reason not to tell the world who we are picking unless we truly are unsure. If Towns is really the no brainer pick in everyone's eyes, wouldn't it be more advantageous to leak we were leaning towards Towns so we could engage the Lakers in a possible move up.

This would also be an opportune time to search out any leaks in FO by putting out different info with different sources.

I am not 100% sold that Okafor will look as dominant against the bigger faster opposition in the NBA, his FT shooting really scares me, and I question his ability to guard the PnR. For those three reasons, I would go with Towns. I think he just has more to his game, and while I don't know Towns' mindset about Minny, I do believe Okafor isn't happy about the possibility of playing here and I think that has to figure into the process. Flip has said that it will carry some weight.

If people in the organization are leaking the Okafor stuff I would think it would be Towns supporters trying to get everyone on Flip's case just like this board to essentially shame him into changing his mind back to Towns. If all the media and radio are pro Towns Flip is going to have a tough time with 3 weeks of leaks saying he's the only guy on the planet thinking Okafor is the top guy. Maybe he doesn't care, but 3 weeks is a long time to be called a moron and it will be even longer if he comes out of the draft with anyone not named Towns.

Also can we stop with the whether he wants to be here or not for both guys. They'd both rather be in LA, but they'll both be fine in MN. Okafor's best friend sitting next to him at the lottery was Tyus who is from MN. I don't think Okafor will need to go on suicide watch if he ends up here. This wanting guys wanting to be here more just can't happen when the direct competitor is LA. We are the consolation prize to LA right now even when we have the higher pick.

Love this post, Kahns! My favorite line is: "I don't think Okafor will need to go on suicide watch if he ends up here.". Good stuff!

[TheGrey08]

If Flip takes Towns, I wonder if we shouldn't see a mea culpa from everybody who has been repeatedly lamenting that Flip is sure to take Okafor because of his ego, stupidity, or whatever.

We hate it when outside journalists pass off speculation about our organization as fact, but some of the posts on this board are flirting with doing the same thing or worse. You met a part owner, or a former Timberwolf or something (I'm torn between saying "that's cool" and "you want a cookie?" so I'll just write both). But it sounds like those guys are just speculating based on "sources" too. He said, he said, he said. It's just Chinese whispers until draft day comes and we actually find out who Flip wants.


Whatever legitimate criticism Flip has earned over the years (and he's earned his share), it seems a little overboard to start bashing his ego and stupidity. He's not David Kahn (who actually earned those epithets). I've been part of this community since back on the ESPN board in 2001-2002. If there's one thing almost all of us have in common, it's that we all think we could run this organization better than anybody else! But that doesn't mean anybody who disagrees with us is a moron. It feels like some of these pro-Towns posts are going beyond rationally discussing who we should pick and why and really trying to lay out the starkest claim to supporting Towns so that the writer can later crow "I told you so" the loudest if Flip takes Okafor and Towns ends up being better. We all do that to some extent (I'd like to remind all you bastards of my I WANT COUSINS and I WANT LAWSON threads at this point! :) ), but don't make Flip out to be an idiot because of pure speculation that he might not agree with you.

Regarding the 2 bolded parts.. We hate when journalists spew BS information or negativity or always try to start something regarding the Wolves and things like that. (Love to the Lakers, etc) I think you are on the right track though. Some of the anti Flip posts have been as bad as some of the media stuff. Flip truly hasn't done enough to warrant the level negativity some have towards him. He's not perfect and I'm sure we all disagree with him on stuff or think he should do x, y, z, but damn.. like your Kahn reference.. he's not anywhere near as bad as Kahn. We could do far worse than Flip.

As far as insider info, I personally love hearing that stuff from people on the board. We are all fans of the team and have no ulterior motive like many people in media do. They are almost always clear in saying they are stating their opinion based on insider info. Sometimes we go too long enough hearing any too! lol

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/insiders-say-minnesota-will-take-towns/

Insiders say Minnesota will take Towns

By Mrs. Tyler Thompson on ©June 12th, 2015 @ 5:00pm

Posted in Basketball, Main | 1 Response

karl-timberwolves2

When the Minnesota Timberwolves won the NBA Draft Lottery, it seemed like Jahlil Okafor was destined to be the number one pick. Timberwolves GM/coach Flip Saunders reportedly preferred Okafor over Karl Towns, but in the weeks since, that has apparently changed. Sources tell Forbes' Mark Heisler "there's no doubt" the Timberwolves will take Towns first:

Minnesota GM/coach Flip Saunders, who had been leaning toward Okafor, is said to have turned pro-Towns after seeing him last week in Los Angeles.

The splash sent ripples throughout the NBA. Says an insider: "There's no doubt, the T-Wolves are taking Towns."

This rumor coincides with one that's been floating around this week that the Los Angeles Lakers are locked in on Okafor at number two. And while it may dash our dreams of Julius Randle and Karl teaming up, Minnesota is an extremely talented young team; however, anything can happen in the next thirteen days...

[Forbes]

[mrhockey89]

I hope the recent articles that say it's a done deal that the Wolves will be taking Towns are correct, but not even because I think he'll be better than Okafor, more that Towns is the better fit of what we need and what we have.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Canis Hoopis article talks about how Karl Anthony Towns could be a revolutionary player like KG was. Very analytical article and I think a must read in assessing Towns vs. Okafor: http://www.canishoopus.com/2015/6/18/8652109/karl-towns-may-very-well-be-the-next-step-in-the-revolution-kevin

[Monster]

Canis Hoopis article talks about how Karl Anthony Towns could be a revolutionary player like KG was. Very analytical article and I think a must read in assessing Towns vs. Okafor: http://www.canishoopus.com/2015/6/18/8652109/karl-towns-may-very-well-be-the-next-step-in-the-revolution-kevin

That was quite the read thanks for posting it. Make sure you are comfy it's pretty long and some of the beginning could have been researched out better and I wasn't impressed to begin with...it ended up being a very worthwhile read.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Karl is in the House!

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 34 minutes ago
According to a fellow traveler, Karl Towns and his father just flew into the Twin Cities -- first class, of course -- from NJ not long ago

[Monster]

Karl is in the House!

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 34 minutes ago
According to a fellow traveler, Karl Towns and his father just flew into the Twin Cities -- first class, of course -- from NJ not long ago

@DanCookWCCO: Spotted on my way to Target Field: Flip Saunders and Karl Anthony Towns walking down Hennipen Avenue

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Karl is in the House!

Jerry Zgoda ?@JerryZgoda 34 minutes ago
According to a fellow traveler, Karl Towns and his father just flew into the Twin Cities -- first class, of course -- from NJ not long ago

How's the weather? Where is he staying? Are the Twins winning? We can't afford for anything to go wrong!

(actually, what am I thinking. It doesn't matter if he likes the TC or not. If we pick him, he's ours!).

[Volans19]

Dan Cook ?@DanCookWCCO 13m13 minutes ago Minneapolis, MN

Spotted on my way to Target Field: Flip Saunders and Karl Anthony Towns walking down Hennipen Avenue