Mar 7, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) shoots the ball against Florida Gators forward Jon Horford (21) in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Florida Gators 67-50. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Karl-Anthony Towns
Age: 19
Height: 6’11
Weight: 250 pounds
Karl-Anthony Towns, who sits atop the majority of NBA draft boards, also happens to be a great fit for the Minnesota Timberwolves, should they decide to select him.
Towns who figures to be a center at the next level, but also has a power forward’s skill set, would be an ideal fit in Minnesota’s plan’s moving forward because he would be able to learn from Kevin Garnett, one of the best frontcourt players in NBA history.
However, Towns’s development and impact is contingent on whether the Timberwolves can, and will, move current center Nikola Pekovic, who is owed over $30 million over the next three years. Unless, the team can move him, the Timberwolves look to have a crowded front court that already has Gorgui Dieng, Anthony Bennett and Adreian Payne, among others.
The personnel logjam notwithstanding, Towns could form a great one-two punch with reigning Rookie of the Year, Andrew Wiggins. In addition to the inside-out offensive approach the Wolves could employ, they have the potential to wreak havoc on defense, with the wingspans of Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, Payne or Bennett, and Towns being a mobile big man with the ability to shot blocks at an astronomical rate.
The Timberwolves did a wonderful job building a strong and sustainable foundation through last year’s draft, and if they select Towns, they seem poised to have one of the brightest futures of any franchise.
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