**The Official Karl-Anthony Towns Thread**

[syrus3]

I need KAT to redeem himself against Okafor next season. And work on a TD-type bank shot.

[Klomp]

Here's an interesting stat:

Towns has now started two games at PF (next to Pekovic): 19.5 ppg, 16.5 rpg. Points obviously inflated by last night's 27-point game, but rebounds are nearly identical. Is this a move MIN should explore full-time?

Pek is only a part-time player (played 30 of Towns' 70 minutes in those games), so these numbers may be purely coincidence. I'd need to look further.

EDIT:
7 of 17 rebounds vs DAL in 14 minutes with Pekovic (10 rebounds in 23 minutes without)
7 of 16 rebounds vs HOU in 16 minutes with Pekovic (9 rebounds in 17 minutes without)

[Foye]

Here's an interesting stat:

Towns has now started two games at PF (next to Pekovic): 19.5 ppg, 16.5 rpg. Points obviously inflated by last night's 27-point game, but rebounds are nearly identical. Is this a move MIN should explore full-time?

Pek is only a part-time player (played 30 of Towns' 70 minutes in those games), so these numbers may be purely coincidence. I'd need to look further.

EDIT:
7 of 17 rebounds vs DAL in 14 minutes with Pekovic (10 rebounds in 23 minutes without)
7 of 16 rebounds vs HOU in 16 minutes with Pekovic (9 rebounds in 17 minutes without)

It's very good that Pekovic came back. That way we'll hopefully find out whether KAT is better at PF or C for the remainder of this lost season.

[minimus]

I'd try to get Mozgov this summer to pair with KAT.

[subwayJ]

KAT should get 30 at C, with GD getting the rest.

[Mattya]

I think he should play both. His versatility allows us to go twin towers with him at PF and small ball at center. PFs will struggle to stop him inside. Centers will struggle to cover his outside shot.

[minimus]

I think he should play both. His versatility allows us to go twin towers with him at PF and small ball at center. PFs will struggle to stop him inside. Centers will struggle to cover his outside shot.

Yes, he is able to prove it in his first year. He has skills and BB IQ to explore his advantages. The problem is that Dieng is too weak to defend C, and too slow to guard PFs, while Pek is still recovering and Bjelica is struggling. Payne usually is "payneful" to watch. With better teammates "KAT effect" will be more evident.

[Klomp]

After being asked if he was close to where he ultimately wants to be defensively, Towns chuckled.

“Close? I’m very far away.”

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/practice-report-no-easy-game-nba

[Jkam31]

So where do you guys see Towns playing PF or C? If you guys do hire Blatt I think Mosgov would sign here easily or if Towns is better at C you sign Ryan Anderson


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[Klomp]

I just want him to be able to keep his versatility, no matter where he's at. If he's at PF, I want a center who can step out and hit a jumper, allowing Towns to still get in the post. If he's at C, I want a PF who can post up effectively so that Towns can still use his jumper often.

[moss_is_1]

I just want him to be able to keep his versatility, no matter where he's at. If he's at PF, I want a center who can step out and hit a jumper, allowing Towns to still get in the post. If he's at C, I want a PF who can post up effectively so that Towns can still use his jumper often.

This.

Especially if we are going to have Rubio/Wiggins on the team. We need all the spacing possible from the bigs.

[Grits n Gravy]

I want KAT primarily at PF in long run, don't want him bulking up and losing his mobility and agility. I don't like him banging and leaning on all the massive guys every night, his life will be much easier and imo more effective if he's primarily at PF.

[Klomp]

This was a great read:

Everyone knew Towns was a major talent coming out of Kentucky - he was the consensus No. 1 overall pick in what is already looking like one of the strongest draft classes in recent history. However, it was hard to appreciate just how talented he was when he was sharing minutes on one of the deepest teams in recent NCAA history. Towns averaged only 21.1 minutes a game on a team that started the season 38-0 and sent seven players to the NBA and could have as many as ten future pros when it’s all said and done. He was the most important cog in the system but he was still a cog who shared the ball and subordinated his talents for the greater good.

Compare his situation to what Ben Simmons, the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is dealing with at LSU. Simmons walked on to a team that lost its two best players to the NBA and featured only a handful of returning upperclassmen and a bunch of less-heralded freshmen who were happy to play a subordinate role to a ball-dominant superstar. He holds the ball for the entire game in a system built around maximizing his talent, which allows him to post the type of eye-popping individual statistics that get players talked about on ESPN and make them household names in a media world that has been taken over by daily fantasy.

There’s a lot more to scouting than scouting the box score. Too often the thinking becomes that Player X must be playing well because he’s putting up huge numbers, regardless of whether the holes in his game are affecting the overall play of his team. Towns was never seen in the same light as Simmons for the same reason that people assumed the Atlanta Hawks didn’t have a star despite being built around one of the most complete big men in the NBA in Al Horford. It’s easier to build a team around a player with no glaring weaknesses than one with a few pronounced strengths, even though it’s harder to discern their value at first glance.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RealGM/status/690592732855664640[/tweet]

[rick_21]

I just want him to be able to keep his versatility, no matter where he's at. If he's at PF, I want a center who can step out and hit a jumper, allowing Towns to still get in the post. If he's at C, I want a PF who can post up effectively so that Towns can still use his jumper often.

I think that is a very good argument.

But think about this, how many centers are in the NBA that can step out and hit a jumper, and at the same time are not defensive liabilities at that position? And then from that group, how many of them could the Wolves realistically sign or trade for?

I give you the first name in that list: Karl-Anthony Towns

Another one?

[Saltine]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdFdQ4Ed4aw[/youtube]
1:08

[GI_Slow]

But think about this, how many centers are in the NBA that can step out and hit a jumper, and at the same time are not defensive liabilities at that position? And then from that group, how many of them could the Wolves realistically sign or trade for?

Motiejunas, but the health issues though...

Horford also keeps a dynamic duo at PF/C

[InfraRen]

Just for fun, I ran KAT's rookie season (so far) vs KG's in StatMuse:

[Klomp]

Just remember....this is probably the worst version of KAT we'll see until he's old.

[ace625214]

Just remember....this is probably the worst version of KAT we'll see until he's old.

And isn't that fantastic?

[Mattya]

I personally don't believe he is human.