The Case for Towns

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I'm not sure how we can pass on this guy. He comes across to me as a really smart, really skilled player. You can plug him into a number of different offensive play sets and he can be useful: Pick and pop, pick and roll, Princeton-style sets, low post, etc. He has the touch and passing skills to play at any number of spots on the floor and be effective. His post-game isn't super advanced, but he proved that he can make basic moves over either shoulder and finish. That means you can't just put a little guy on him and expect to be OK. And what intrigues me most is his potential to stretch the floor as a 5 (not a 4) and pull the defensive 5's that are so ubiquitous on top teams these days out of the freakin' paint.

I think he'll struggle defensively at first - like nearly all bigs - and he may even get pushed around a bit in the paint, as I'm skeptical about his lower body strength. But those issues aren't enough to dissuade me over his long-term upside. He may not be the prospect that Tim Duncan or Anthony Davis was, but I can definitely see him being a bigger version of Al Horford. That's a really damn good 2-way player.

[Coolbreeze44]

Fouls shouldn't be much of a concern. I remember when Pek could barely play 8 minutes before his fouls would force him to the bench. Towns will learn in due time.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I actually compare Russell more to Dion Waiters (same height, mentality) than Evan Turner. Unfortunately, I am not a Waiters fan. If we draft Russell, I'll have the same vomit reflex I did as when we drafted Flynn or Wes Johnson.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I actually compare Russell more to Dion Waiters (same height, mentality) than Evan Turner. Unfortunately, I am not a Waiters fan. If we draft Russell, I'll have the same vomit reflex I did as when we drafted Flynn or Wes Johnson.

I haven't heard of many attitude problems with Russell. But I'm not claiming they aren't there.

Do you have any links that we can read more?

[bleedspeed]

When you consider how bad Okafor is at Free throw shooting, you can surely make the case for Towns being more efficient overall than Okafor. But the huge difference maker with Towns is his defense. Plus, I think his game will improve more from where its at now than either Okafor or Russell.

He has to just to watch up with what Russell and Okafor did in college in my opinion. I just hope we get the best player. I certainly have more concerns with Towns then the other 2.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

I actually compare Russell more to Dion Waiters (same height, mentality) than Evan Turner. Unfortunately, I am not a Waiters fan. If we draft Russell, I'll have the same vomit reflex I did as when we drafted Flynn or Wes Johnson.

I haven't heard of many attitude problems with Russell. But I'm not claiming they aren't there.

Do you have any links that we can read more?

I have read some write-ups where they think he is a selfish player (in a negative way) and doesn't give it his all on defense. I don't think I saw troublemaker. In contrast, Towns is viewed as very unselfish, team guy and plays hard on both sides of the ball. He's still a work in progress but I think he's got the tools and attitude to be a franchise type player and he's pretty talented right now.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I actually compare Russell more to Dion Waiters (same height, mentality) than Evan Turner. Unfortunately, I am not a Waiters fan. If we draft Russell, I'll have the same vomit reflex I did as when we drafted Flynn or Wes Johnson.

I haven't heard of many attitude problems with Russell. But I'm not claiming they aren't there.

Do you have any links that we can read more?

I have read some write-ups where they think he is a selfish player (in a negative way) and doesn't give it his all on defense. I don't think I saw troublemaker. In contrast, Towns is viewed as very unselfish, team guy and plays hard on both sides of the ball. He's still a work in progress but I think he's got the tools and attitude to be a franchise type player and he's pretty talented right now.

Send links if you can. I'd like to read them.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I actually compare Russell more to Dion Waiters (same height, mentality) than Evan Turner. Unfortunately, I am not a Waiters fan. If we draft Russell, I'll have the same vomit reflex I did as when we drafted Flynn or Wes Johnson.

Heh, I don't think you will have to worry too much. While Flip will play lip service to taking the best player available, regardless of position, make no mistake about it - he's got his got his sights set on either Towns or Okafor. Russell simply wasn't dominant enough to trump the desperate straits we're in with our bigs.

[TeamRicky [enjin:6648771]]

Towns said he'd be happy to come to Minnesota ,don't know if Okafor has said the same. Here's the story. http://zagsblog.com/articles/kentuckys-towns-says-it-would-be-a-blessing-to-go-no-1-in-nba-draft-to-the-minnesota-timberwolves/

"It would be a blessing and an honor to even have a chance to play for Minnesota and be able to have the chance to play for a great organization and learn from a great mentor like Kevin Garnett," Towns told SNY.tv at the lottery.

Asked if he was ready for the cold weather in Minnesota, Towns cracked a broad smile and said, "Of course, I'm from Jersey. We're used to snow, we're used to cold weather."
....
Towns could be the next great thing for the Wolves.

Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller have already chimed in and said they believe Towns should be the No. 1 pick and they are not alone.

Former UCLA star Don MacLean, the all-time leading scorer in the Pac-12 and at UCLA, has been training Towns in Los Angeles and said he's "blown away" by Towns' ability both to step out and shoot it and score in the post.

"I've been doing this for 11 or 12 years pre-draft," he told SNY.tv. "Because I had a lot of top 10 picks and a lot of really good players, I'm not really impressed or blown away. I had Towns all last week and I was blown away. Blown away.

"A kid that big but shoots it that well but handles it that well and understands the game, that's coachable, that wants to get better, wants to be great, I was blown away by him last week.

"Am I a little biased? I've known Jahlil because I've done Adidas nations forever. Jahlil's a great kid and a great player but I just think he doesn't have as much to his game as Karl has."

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Here is Towns' numbers in games he has played in 25 or more. Now I did the math so there could be some errors:
15.3 PPG
55% FG
9.6 RPG
2.2 BPG