Poll: Who should the Wolves take with the #1 overall pick?

[horaceworthy]

but the idea that there's a huge gap between the two as prospects is pretty absurd. The way people talk, It's like the gap is getting bigger and they're not even playing.

If there isn't a huge gap between this 2, why scouts, mocks, polls (whatever) dont divide the picks a little bit more ?

It's 8-4 in this latest consensus mock:
http://www.nba.com/news/2015-consensus-mock-draft/

Not a perfectly even split but far from a landslide either.

Also, as Mattya said, this doesn't really say how close people rate them, either. Towns could have a rating of 95 and Okafor 94 and the person would put Towns #1. That doesn't necessarily mean the guy thinks Towns is significantly better than Okafor, just slightly better. The other thing to remember with mock drafts is that some will take team needs (or should I say "perceived" team needs) into acount and other mocks won't.

How dare you attempt to take a reasonable, evenhanded approach to this. If you're not pounding the table for Towns you're obviously an out of touch dinosaur whose morning ritual is singling out a different Timberwolves fan, showing up to their house, and taking a leak in their Cheerios.

[jpatrick]

The Okafor/Towns thing is going to drag on for awhile. In the meantime, off that topic, we have 31, 36, Bjelica, and maybe even Kevin Martin to move for a mid-first round pick. If that actually happens, I expect at least Bjelica to be moved, who are we targeting?

I know there was some talk that Flip likes Tyus, although I've also heard Flip say that he envisions Lavine as someone who plays 15 minutes at PG and SG, so I'm not sure how likely a first round PG would be. The guy I like is Justin Anderson. I'm not sure how the minutes would work with our wings (Martin would have to move out I guess), but I think we need a 3-and-D Danny Green-type guy, and as long as Anderson's newly found shot holds up, he'd be perfect. Guy is an athletic 231 freak, who'll defend.

[C.lupus]

The Okafor/Towns thing is going to drag on for awhile. In the meantime, off that topic, we have 31, 36, Bjelica, and maybe even Kevin Martin to move for a mid-first round pick. If that actually happens, I expect at least Bjelica to be moved, who are we targeting?

I know there was some talk that Flip likes Tyus, although I've also heard Flip say that he envisions Lavine as someone who plays 15 minutes at PG and SG, so I'm not sure how likely a first round PG would be. The guy I like is Justin Anderson. I'm not sure how the minutes would work with our wings (Martin would have to move out I guess), but I think we need a 3-and-D Danny Green-type guy, and as long as Anderson's newly found shot holds up, he'd be perfect. Guy is an athletic 231 freak, who'll defend.

I like Anderson, too (and Tyus). Doogie also mentioned Flip liking Looney so that may be another option.

[jpatrick]

It's interesting. After seeing Towns' skill level in that workout, I do see similarities to Anthony Davis in that although they clearly have great face up games, Cal pigeon holed them into post players, limiting their offensive stats. Davis is clearly a better athlete and a PF, while Towns has a significant reach advantage and will eventually play center I think. That said, I think everyone's gut reaction is to say Towns isn't the "prospect" that Davis was at that time, but Davis faced many of the same questions about his offense that people now have about Towns because of KY's system. Take a look back at this thread:

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1187024#start_here

I could see us looking back at this thread in a few years wondering how we either didn't see Towns/Okafor as the superstar or bust they became.

[Takingbaconback]

I think WCS is a closer comparison to Anthony Davis. In my mind, the freakish athleticism, length, explosion, and that "guard in a center's body" is the baseline for Davis. Obviously ADs got much more skill but WCS has a lot of talent as well, more on offense than many believe imo.

[Worm Guts]

Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin were both great athletes who had a great feel for how to turn that athleticism into offense. Towns doesn't have the same type of athleticism. WCS does, but he doesn't know how to use it the same way.
Towns should be a good scorer but I don't expect more than 20-22 at his peak.

[TRKO]

It's hard to put Towns in Davis' class because he isn't the athlete. We also don't know because of Cal's system if Towns skill can translate as far as shooting. Towns need to improve his base strength in order to succeed as a post player in the NBA. Can he create space for his shot. I wish he hadn't played at Kentucky so we would have a better handle on who he is. Does his skill translate to in game performance. Yes we have glimpses of a few shots that give hope, but you want more. If I had a highly skilled son I think I would point him somewhere besides Kentucky, although you can't argue with Cal's success of getting guys drafted.

[mondry]

It's hard to put Towns in Davis' class because he isn't the athlete. We also don't know because of Cal's system if Towns skill can translate as far as shooting. Towns need to improve his base strength in order to succeed as a post player in the NBA. Can he create space for his shot. I wish he hadn't played at Kentucky so we would have a better handle on who he is. Does his skill translate to in game performance. Yes we have glimpses of a few shots that give hope, but you want more. If I had a highly skilled son I think I would point him somewhere besides Kentucky, although you can't argue with Cal's success of getting guys drafted.

Umm... what? He developed a very good post game there and everything he improved on there is WHY he's now considered the #1 pick. He didn't need to go somewhere else that would let him jack up 3's all game, without what he developed there we wouldn't even have this discussion! They produce amazing big men, just look at some of the big's that have come out of kentucky my god you'd send your kid some where else WHAT?

[TRKO]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QH-6X9tEXv4

[Mattya]

Towns doesn't have the fluidity of Davis when he moves. Davis moves like a guard and is more lanky than Towns. Davis will probably be better at every aspect on defense. Towns will be more of outside shooting threat.

[TRKO]

It's hard to put Towns in Davis' class because he isn't the athlete. We also don't know because of Cal's system if Towns skill can translate as far as shooting. Towns need to improve his base strength in order to succeed as a post player in the NBA. Can he create space for his shot. I wish he hadn't played at Kentucky so we would have a better handle on who he is. Does his skill translate to in game performance. Yes we have glimpses of a few shots that give hope, but you want more. If I had a highly skilled son I think I would point him somewhere besides Kentucky, although you can't argue with Cal's success of getting guys drafted.

Umm... what? He developed a very good post game there and everything he improved on there is WHY he's now considered the #1 pick. He didn't need to go somewhere else that would let him jack up 3's all game, without what he developed there we wouldn't even have this discussion! They produce amazing big men, just look at some of the big's that have come out of kentucky my god you'd send him some where else WHAT?

Don't you think he could have gone somewhere where he could have developed his post game and work on his midrange and three point game at the same time?

[mondry]

It's hard to put Towns in Davis' class because he isn't the athlete. We also don't know because of Cal's system if Towns skill can translate as far as shooting. Towns need to improve his base strength in order to succeed as a post player in the NBA. Can he create space for his shot. I wish he hadn't played at Kentucky so we would have a better handle on who he is. Does his skill translate to in game performance. Yes we have glimpses of a few shots that give hope, but you want more. If I had a highly skilled son I think I would point him somewhere besides Kentucky, although you can't argue with Cal's success of getting guys drafted.

Umm... what? He developed a very good post game there and everything he improved on there is WHY he's now considered the #1 pick. He didn't need to go somewhere else that would let him jack up 3's all game, without what he developed there we wouldn't even have this discussion! They produce amazing big men, just look at some of the big's that have come out of kentucky my god you'd send him some where else WHAT?

Don't you think he could have gone somewhere where he could have developed his post game and work on his midrange and three point game at the same time?

I'm not an expert on college coaches that develop big men but if there's one better than cal that could teach him everything there is about being a big man in one year I'm sure he would have gone there. How much can really be taught in 1 year though?

[TRKO]

Umm... what? He developed a very good post game there and everything he improved on there is WHY he's now considered the #1 pick. He didn't need to go somewhere else that would let him jack up 3's all game, without what he developed there we wouldn't even have this discussion! They produce amazing big men, just look at some of the big's that have come out of kentucky my god you'd send him some where else WHAT?

Don't you think he could have gone somewhere where he could have developed his post game and work on his midrange and three point game at the same time?

I'm not an expert on college coaches that develop big men but if there's one better than cal that could teach him everything there is about being a big man in one year I'm sure he would have gone there. How much can really be taught in 1 year though?

I'm not saying there is a college coach that could teach him everything. Apparently Towns was known as a shooter in high school. Cal doesn't want his bigs to shoot. My point was I wish Towns had gone to a coach that would have worked on his post game while utilizing his jump shot. I think that would have enhanced his value. Now Cal has a proven track record of having bigs get picked high. My opinion is the reason they get picked high is because she is an outstanding recruiter and gets the best talent. I could be dead wrong though.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Towns just isnt in AD's class athletically.

I think alot of people favor towns because of A) Fit/trend and B) because he has less weaknesses than Okafor, not because he's a better player.

[Takingbaconback]

Towns just isnt in AD's class athletically.

I think alot of people favor towns because of A) Fit/trend and B) because he has less weaknesses than Okafor, not because he's a better player.

No, that's why you think Okafor should be the pick. Most people believe Towns is a better overall player than Okafor.

[jpatrick]

I 100% agree that Towns isn't the athlete Davis is, but remember that Towns has 5" of reach and about 30 pounds on Davis. Size can compensate for some of that difference. Plus, Towns will in theory be playing against centers as opposed to PFs, thus in theory being defended by bigger slower guys.

That said, I don't see Towns as a scoring champ. Rather a 20-24 ppg, 12 Rebs, 3 asst, 2.5 block, great D kinda guy, which is a perfect 1A to go with Wiggins.

On Around the Horn today (terrible show btw) the reporters were basically laughing when it was suggested we take anyone but Towns. One of the reporters said a GM with a top five pick told her this week that Towns is killing it in workouts (although I'm pretty sure no GM has watched his workouts unless the Lakers have sneaked into some of those LA workouts).

[Crazy-Canuck]

Towns just isnt in AD's class athletically.

I think alot of people favor towns because of A) Fit/trend and B) because he has less weaknesses than Okafor, not because he's a better player.

No, that's why you think Okafor should be the pick. Most people believe Towns is a better overall player than Okafor.

Because he has less weaknesses.

It doesnt mean he is the basketball better player. The things OKafor does well, he does much better than Towns and the things he doesnt do well, he does much worse than Towns.

Towns has a very good middle ground. Okafor is polar.

[Klomp]

The biggest thing that scares me about Towns is that we didn't see a lot of his skillset in games. Blame it on Cal's system if you want, but that still doesn't change the fact that we rarely, if at all, saw skills like shooting and ballhandling that have elevated him to the top spot. That scares me, because we'd be banking on the hope that those things translate into a game setting without even seeing them at the NCAA level.

On the other hand, Okafor showed what he is on the court. Sure, he has weaknesses and is rough around the edges but we've seen his skillset he has developed to this point.

[Takingbaconback]

Towns just isnt in AD's class athletically.

I think alot of people favor towns because of A) Fit/trend and B) because he has less weaknesses than Okafor, not because he's a better player.

No, that's why you think Okafor should be the pick. Most people believe Towns is a better overall player than Okafor.

Because he has less weaknesses.

It doesnt mean he is the basketball better player. The things OKafor does well, he does much better than Towns and the things he doesnt do well, he does much worse than Towns.

Towns has a very good middle ground. Okafor is polar.

Again why the heck would people want Towns if they don't think he is an overall better player than Okafor?

You think Okafor is more talented overall fine, but don't act like its a fact. Only thing Okafor does a lot better than Towns is post moves

[Crazy-Canuck]

No, that's why you think Okafor should be the pick. Most people believe Towns is a better overall player than Okafor.

Because he has less weaknesses.

It doesnt mean he is the basketball better player. The things OKafor does well, he does much better than Towns and the things he doesnt do well, he does much worse than Towns.

Towns has a very good middle ground. Okafor is polar.

Again why the heck would people want Towns if they don't think he is an overall better player than Okafor?

You think Okafor is more talented overall fine, but don't act like its a fact. Only thing Okafor does a lot better than Towns is post moves

Because they think KAT is the next Davis.

Never said he was better overall. I said he is the better overall player, but I think Okafor is the more talented player. Hence middle ground vs polar. I also think Okafors skillset and size translate better.

To make it clear again for you.

KAT is the better overall player, but I THINK Okafor is the more talented player and will translate better to the pros.

Both are excellent players. Who you prefer is subjective, there is no true consensus in this draft.