The Case for Towns

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

We could have two of the best young two way players in the game if we land Towns and on rookie contracts. I am hoping Flip announces this pick early so we don't have to stress out about him doing something stupid.

I posted this before, but Bleacher Report wrote an article predicting who the top 20 players will be in 2020. Wiggins was #2, and Towns was #13. This was just one man's opinion, but having two of the top 13 players in the game is a good foundation for a championship team, especially if they are both 2-way players and in their mid-20s.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2377569-nba-2020-predicting-the-leagues-top-20-stars-in-2020


In the interest of full disclosure, Okafor is ranked 18th...more evidence that Flip is not likely to screw this up.

I don't think picking Russell or Okafor would be screwing it up. It's like picking between chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream. It all depends on what your taste is. We are going to get a very good young player, maybe not a guy on Davis' or Wiggins' level, but one in the tier below it.

Anthony Davis?

To be fair, there is no guarantee Wiggins is even remotely close to Anthony Davis. Or, ever will be.

Davis is arguably a top 5 player... and rising.

Davis wasn't a top 5 player after his rookie year. He's had the luxury of multiple years in the league to show how good he is. Do you have doubts Wiggins can be that #2 overall player in the league the writer suggests? It seems like every time the Wiggins hype gets going again you swoop in saying he's still not a guaranteed guy. Do you think he'll be that guy or are there still red flags that make you believe he can't attain that level of play?

[BloopOracle]

Passing on Towns will be the biggest mistake in franchise history

[Volans19]

Passing on Towns will be the biggest mistake in franchise history

Even if Okafor turns out to be a multiple time All-Star?

Also.... Curry

[BloopOracle]

Passing on Towns will be the biggest mistake in franchise history

Even if Okafor turns out to be a multiple time All-Star?

Also.... Curry

Yes, I am that high on Towns

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Meh.

Flynn over Curry?

Okafor over Towns?

I've been the biggest supporter of Towns on this board without question, and I'd still say taking Flynn over Curry (or DeRozan) was this franchise's worst draft mistake.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Passing on Towns will be the biggest mistake in franchise history

I fail to see how Towns is that much better than Okafor that picking Okafor over Towns would be the biggest mistake in franchise history. Guys with Okafor's post skills aren't in every draft, in fact some experts say the last guy with that type of footwork and post game is Duncan. Ducan was picked almost twenty years ago. Okafor looks like he can develop a midrange shot and a face up game. He won't be a three point threat that Towns could be, and he won't be the shot blocker Towns will be. If Flip feels he can develop Okafor into a solid defender and if he feels that he could be Duncan like offensively, I fail to see how that is a bad pick. Now Flip could be entirely wrong in his assessment, but he wouldn't be alone in that assessment for Okafor.

[BloopOracle]

I don't see any potential in Okafor ever developing a jumpshot with his massive hands, he is a terrible shooter at the line because of it and looks just as bad pulling up for 2 during the game. I also don't see that much potential in Okafor's defense either. I'm not saying he is destined to be horrible at everything besides posting up but it's the truth. He has Tim Duncan post moves but that's it, seem like a lot of people just assume he will improve all of these other facets of his game because he happens to excel at a HoF level at one particular thing.

Towns on the other hand I see becoming the best Center in the NBA and a 2 way monster who is devastating in the pick and roll yet fast enough to guard 4's and 5's. The ideal new age Center, but that's just me.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

I don't see any potential in Okafor ever developing a jumpshot with his massive hands, he is a terrible shooter at the line because of it and looks just as bad pulling up for 2 during the game. I also don't see that much potential in Okafor's defense either. I'm not saying he is destined to be horrible at everything besides posting up but it's the truth. He has Tim Duncan post moves but that's it, seem like a lot of people just assume he will improve all of these other facets of his game because he happens to excel at a HoF level at one particular thing.

Towns on the other hand I see becoming the best Center in the NBA and a 2 way monster who is devastating in the pick and roll yet fast enough to guard 4's and 5's. The ideal new age Center, but that's just me.

I've seen on a few occasions Okafor hit that midrange bank shot. I think that's an aspect of his game he can and needs to develop. I've seen him face up and beat his man off the dribble. He has great handles for a big man. While he has a great post game I see areas offensively where he can improve.

With Okafor's 7'6" wingspan, his nimble feet, and his natural strength I think he can develop into a solid defender. He is not an above the basket shot blocker. That will never be in his game, but you don't have to block shots to be a good defender. Many of his defensive issues were due to being out of position and not playing aggressive enough.

I've said this many times, Okafor, Towns, and Russell are 19 years old, there is going to be growth with all three.

[Monster]

Part of this may sound crazy but hear me out. Hopefully you get where I am coming from.

Towns not being a star player is because people don't see his upside on offense right? He has lots of good tools a nice jump shot and can hit his FTs etc. You know who wasn't supposed to be a star scorer or even hit 19ppg and just be kind of a super role player or whatever? Kevin Love. Yes he is an outlier but after Love was in the league a year or two and people said he couldn't become a 20ppg scorer I said if Boozer can do it Love certainly can. lLt's look at the raw things Towns can do and make some sort of reasonable projections on his scoring ability.

His above average FT% is a big plus a lot like Love if he gets fouled he is gonna score points at a high rate at the FT line. That's good for scoring especially a center. We know that first hand with Pek.

A freshman center that hits over 80% of his FTs is ridiculous. At the very least lets say Town has a legit jumpshot whether you think he can get out to the 3 point line that's a big deal to have a guy that can likely hit jumpers outside the lane. He is not some defensive rebounding dude with no shot like Bogut who is a really nice player when healthy. With that Jumper Towns may end up with at least a nice face up post game.

He has some post game and has good size and above average athletic ability for someone his size. That's gonna get him some buckets down there. I'd imagine he will convert some lobs.

I've seen Towns really pursue the basketball I don't think I would project him as a super garbage bucket guy but he will get a good chunk of them.

So what kind of offensive player does that add up to? Why not Brook Lopez? I didn't see him play to much in college (plus that seemed forever ago now lol) but I know what he can do at the NBA level and one of his strengths is his ability to shoot the basketball but of course he has more than that but I think there are some similarities. Lopez really improved from his Freshman to Sophomore year.

Ok so maybe you think Lopez is too high of a comp so what if Towns only scores 17ppg and does everything else you want a big guy to do play defense and rebound and you don't have to take him out because he can hit FTs?
I think people are underselling Towns ability to put the ball in the basket to a certain point partly because he didn't get a consistent chance to and he doesn't hit you with that fluid scorer game right now. I think it's perfectly reasonable to think he COULD be a 20ppg scorer in this league and if he is the type of defensive player he projects to be damn that's a hell of a good player that would be the best or nearly the best C in the league which would be very valuable. I'm not saying Towns will score 20ppg but my point is that i think Towns has more scoring skills than he is given credit for in general and could reasonably become a star.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Part of this may sound crazy but hear me out. Hopefully you get where I am coming from.

Towns not being a star player is because people don't see his upside on offense right? He has lots of good tools a nice jump shot and can hit his FTs etc. You know who wasn't supposed to be a star scorer or even hit 19ppg and just be kind of a super role player or whatever? Kevin Love. Yes he is an outlier but after Love was in the league a year or two and people said he couldn't become a 20ppg scorer I said if Boozer can do it Love certainly can. lLt's look at the raw things Towns can do and make some sort of reasonable projections on his scoring ability.

His above average FT% is a big plus a lot like Love if he gets fouled he is gonna score points at a high rate at the FT line. That's good for scoring especially a center. We know that first hand with Pek.

A freshman center that hits over 80% of his FTs is ridiculous. At the very least lets say Town has a legit jumpshot whether you think he can get out to the 3 point line that's a big deal to have a guy that can likely hit jumpers outside the lane. He is not some defensive rebounding dude with no shot like Bogut who is a really nice player when healthy. With that Jumper Towns may end up with at least a nice face up post game.

He has some post game and has good size and above average athletic ability for someone his size. That's gonna get him some buckets down there. I'd imagine he will convert some lobs.

I've seen Towns really pursue the basketball I don't think I would project him as a super garbage bucket guy but he will get a good chunk of them.

So what kind of offensive player does that add up to? Why not Brook Lopez? I didn't see him play to much in college (plus that seemed forever ago now lol) but I know what he can do at the NBA level and one of his strengths is his ability to shoot the basketball but of course he has more than that but I think there are some similarities. Lopez really improved from his Freshman to Sophomore year.

Ok so maybe you think Lopez is too high of a comp so what if Towns only scores 17ppg and does everything else you want a big guy to do play defense and rebound and you don't have to take him out because he can hit FTs?
I think people are underselling Towns ability to put the ball in the basket to a certain point partly because he didn't get a consistent chance to and he doesn't hit you with that fluid scorer game right now. I think it's perfectly reasonable to think he COULD be a 20ppg scorer in this league and if he is the type of defensive player he projects to be damn that's a hell of a good player that would be the best or nearly the best C in the league which would be very valuable. I'm not saying Towns will score 20ppg but my point is that i think Towns has more scoring skills than he is given credit for in general and could reasonably become a star.

At one point in time Bogut had a shot. His 2009/2010 numbers were very good and I think that's is the type of player Towns is with more athleticism and upside. Towns definitely could develop into a 20 point per game guy. Maybe I'm too hard on Towns in some people's eyes. I just have a hard time calling the guy a the clear cut number 1 pick when when 20% of his games he scored 4 points or less and 51% of his games he scored 10 points or less. He has the skills to be the number one overall pick for sure. He didn't show the consistency in college to be the run away first overall pick though. That's the point I'm trying to make. I'm well aware that there is overwhelming support for Towns to be selected first. I'm in the minority that believes it's too close to call.