**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread: Part Two**

fattymcgee · Post #161 » by **fattymcgee** » Fri Feb 10, 2023 7:16 pm

TheProdigy wrote:
fattymcgee wrote:
minimus wrote:"But we should trade KAT!" said waay too many people on this forum.

They forget so quickly how he carried us to the playoffs last year. He's a near perfect 1B.

If KAT were a near perfect 1B, we wouldn't have traded for Gobert.

So it only takes two good players to win a championship?

TheProdigy · Post #162 » by **TheProdigy** » Fri Feb 10, 2023 7:26 pm

fattymcgee wrote:
TheProdigy wrote:
fattymcgee wrote:If KAT were a near perfect 1B, we wouldn't have traded for Gobert.

So it only takes two good players to win a championship?

You're missing the point. We wouldn't have traded 5 young prospects, 4 1st rd picks, and a 1st rd pick swap for a guy who plays the same position as the player you consider "a near perfect 1B".

Ethomasp31 · Post #163 » by **Ethomasp31** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:32 am

Someone said that they heard Jon K from the Athletic said he thought KAT would only be back for 8 or 9 regular season games this year on KFAN today. Is this correct? That would mean he would be out another 5 weeks. Let me be clear....I didn't hear this and am questioning the information that was given to me. I was wondering if anyone else heard this...

jscott · Post #164 » by **jscott** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:49 am

TheProdigy wrote:
fattymcgee wrote:
TheProdigy wrote:

So it only takes two good players to win a championship?

You're missing the point. We wouldn't have traded 5 young prospects, 4 1st rd picks, and a 1st rd pick swap for a guy who plays the same position as the player you consider "a near perfect 1B".

You do if you believe they can compliment each other.

minimus · Post #165 » by **minimus** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:42 pm

I have heard Dane Moore talking about Towns on today podcast. He compares Towns and Markkanen archetype/role. And I looked for some Conley passing numbers in UTH:

Markkanen - versatile scorer at PF position (85)
Clarkson - 6th man (53)
Kessler - classic rim runner (33)
Olynik - classic pick-n-pop (42)
Vando - dunker spot threat, cutter (34)
Beasley - catch-and-shoot 3pr assassin (39)

Conley was the ONLY pass first PG in UTA. He orchestrated that offense, balancing between inside/outside scoring. You can also see that he played with different archetypes of player, and made them look better. for instance, we all know that Vando is limited in terms of catching the ball.

I can also see how Conley adopted his game from playing with pick-n-pop Gasol, then Rudy Gobert, and finally this year with very mixed roster in UTA and now in MIN. Basically this season is kind of synthesis of whole his career.

I just hope it help Towns to find his zen, dont force in offense and defense.

Colbinii · Post #166 » by **Colbinii** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 3:07 pm

TheProdigy wrote:
fattymcgee wrote:
TheProdigy wrote:

So it only takes two good players to win a championship?

You're missing the point. We wouldn't have traded 5 young prospects, 4 1st rd picks, and a 1st rd pick swap for a guy who plays the same position as the player you consider "a near perfect 1B".

We traded 2 young prospects--one of them is going to be out of the NBA soon in Balmaro.

Klomp · Post #167 » by **Klomp** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 9:42 pm

I love that he doesn’t have to come in as the savior of the team once he's healthy. Just come in and play his role. Same with Gobert.

That might actually be the key to unlocking the "two bigs" lineup as well. Philadelphia didn't work, arguably because everything revolved around the big lineup. To me and probably everyone in the locker room, this is Ant's team. I'd equate it more to Boston last year, where they ran the big lineups but the system didn't necessarily run [i]through[/] them.

If Towns is smart, I hope he'll see it like his Kentucky group and even his first season, with a "we over me" mindset. That's arguably what has brought him the most success and accolades in his basketball career.

Klomp · Post #168 » by **Klomp** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 11:05 pm

Ethomasp31 wrote:Someone said that they heard Jon K from the Athletic said he thought KAT would only be back for 8 or 9 regular season games this year on KFAN today. Is this correct? That would mean he would be out another 5 weeks. Let me be clear....I didn't hear this and am questioning the information that was given to me. I was wondering if anyone else heard this...

I haven't heard that, but I did just see this report

Read on Twitter

Nick K · Post #169 » by **Nick K** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 11:50 pm

KAT just said a few days ago that he got really, really good news from the doctor. He's in a practice uniform in the ANT all star team video. My guess he's back by March 1st.

minimus · Post #170 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 12:24 pm

Watch on YouTube

Looking forward to see Towns playing again. We need his talent on the floor.

minimus · Post #171 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:07 pm

Watch on YouTube

I wonder if this play was originally designed for KAT

Klomp · Post #172 » by **Klomp** » Wed Feb 22, 2023 7:49 pm

I'm looking at a target return date of March 7. I think that's pretty realistic.

Something that we haven't really discussed is the opportunity we have to reintegrate him into the team. We didn't really have that opportunity in training camp and preseason, due to Gobert's resting and stuff.

But look at this schedule...

March 4: West Coast road trip ends in Sacramento
(two full days off)
March 7: Home game against Philadelphia
(two full days off)
March 10: Home game against Brooklyn
(two full days off)
March 13: Road game at Atlanta

That's a lot of practice time for this late in the season, something that almost never happens. And for it to line up almost perfectly with the return of Towns after half a season away is massive.

minimus · Post #173 » by **minimus** » Fri Feb 24, 2023 9:10 am

Read on Twitter

Get well, Karl

Baseline81 · Post #174 » by **Baseline81** » Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:01 pm

minimus wrote:

Read on Twitter

Get well, Karl

Did it take Towns 25 FG or 17 FT?

minimus · Post #175 » by **minimus** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 12:16 pm

Read on Twitter

Some last season stats:

I think Towns is one of the most versatile scoring threats in NBA. He is not a strict postup big he used to be at the beginning of his NBA career.

Guest84 · Post #176 » by **Guest84** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 7:21 pm

The more I think about it, the more I consider just leaving Kat out for the rest of the season. When he comes back, it's going to affect the team in a negative way due to having to adjust all over again. Not to mention, how rusty will he be? Also, what does a major injury do to his potential trade value?

There are only a few games left...is it worth it to bring Kat back considering he wasn't healthy from the beginning of the season? I'm just not so sure.

Baseline81 · Post #177 » by **Baseline81** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 6:41 pm

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/270658/Wolves-Continue-To-Believe-In-Karl-Anthony-Towns-Have-No-Plans-To-Trade-Him

"Teams are already talking about it," Jon Krawczynski replied. "There's no doubt that other teams are eyeing this situation and looking to see if KAT will become available.

"I can tell you from everyone that I've talked to within the organization, they very much believe in KAT. They believe that once he comes back and they have some time to build around ANT and Gobert and KAT, they very much believe that can still work. Chris Finch believes it. Tim Connelly believes it. They don't have any plans to trade him.

minimus · Post #178 » by **minimus** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 6:42 pm

Baseline81 wrote:https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/270658/Wolves-Continue-To-Believe-In-Karl-Anthony-Towns-Have-No-Plans-To-Trade-Him

"Teams are already talking about it," Jon Krawczynski replied. "There's no doubt that other teams are eyeing this situation and looking to see if KAT will become available.

"I can tell you from everyone that I've talked to within the organization, they very much believe in KAT. They believe that once he comes back and they have some time to build around ANT and Gobert and KAT, they very much believe that can still work. Chris Finch believes it. Tim Connelly believes it. They don't have any plans to trade him.

Teams are always talking about Towns.

shrink · Post #179 » by **shrink** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:36 pm

Guest84 wrote:The more I think about it, the more I consider just leaving Kat out for the rest of the season. When he comes back, it's going to affect the team in a negative way due to having to adjust all over again. Not to mention, how rusty will he be? Also, what does a major injury do to his potential trade value?

There are only a few games left...is it worth it to bring Kat back considering he wasn't healthy from the beginning of the season? I'm just not so sure.

I’ve had those same considerations.

I would be in favor of waiting until there is virtually no risk at all of Towns reaggravating such a serious injury. The Rudy acquisition was a longterm play, for a guy with a longterm contract, using longterm assets. Sure, I’d like to do well in the playoffs this season, and there would be a little value reintegrating KAT in actual games, for both Towns and the rest of the team. But if we are a .500 team this season without Towns, our future seasons where we could be a legitimate contender are far more important, and not worth risking on this season.

I hope they play it extremely safe. Maybe they are doing that right now.

frankenwolf · Post #180 » by **frankenwolf** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:45 pm

shrink wrote:
Guest84 wrote:The more I think about it, the more I consider just leaving Kat out for the rest of the season. When he comes back, it's going to affect the team in a negative way due to having to adjust all over again. Not to mention, how rusty will he be? Also, what does a major injury do to his potential trade value?

There are only a few games left...is it worth it to bring Kat back considering he wasn't healthy from the beginning of the season? I'm just not so sure.

I’ve had those same considerations.

I would be in favor of waiting until there is virtually no risk at all of Towns reaggravating such a serious injury. The Rudy acquisition was a longterm play, for a guy with a longterm contract, using longterm assets. Sure, I’d like to do well in the playoffs this season, and there would be a little value reintegrating KAT in actual games, for both Towns and the rest of the team. But if we are a .500 team this season without Towns, our future seasons where we could be a legitimate contender are far more important, and not worth risking on this season.

I hope they play it extremely safe. Maybe they are doing that right now.

I'm on the fence. I do want KAT at 100%, so he doesn't need to rush back, but if he plays the last two games and then helps us in the playoffs, that could also be beneficial to the teams growth. (By helps, I mean wins a few games, get to the second round). After all, we know this team is different with KAT,Ant & Gobert and without D'lo.