Timberwolves are split on Towns and Okafor

The Minnesota Timberwolves landed the first overall pick in this year’s draft, but they are still deciding on who they want as the no. 1 overall pick.

As we patiently wait for the NBA Draft, rumors and theories on who will be the no. 1 pick are starting to surface. Whether it is Karl-Anthony Towns, the Kentucky standout, or Jahlil Okafor, the big man from Duke, no one really knows what the Timberwolves are going to do with that first overall pick. Not even Chad Ford even though his big board may say differently.

According to Ford, who has been updating his draft board frequently since the draft order was established, Flip Sanders might be considering drafting Okafor even though most of the Timberwolves staff wants Towns.

Up until this moment, it was almost a done deal as far as who the no. 1 pick was going to be. Karl-Anthony Towns was the best big man on one of the best college basketball teams ever. He is going to be an immediate impact player wherever he ends up and can play both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

On the other hand, Jahlil Okafor is one of the best offensive prospects to enter the draft as a big man in quite some time. We all saw his ability to score on the block in the national championship game. But he also can step outside and knock down a few mid range jump shots here and there. It would be a gamble to pick Okafor, but this risk might be worth it if Okafor can turn out to be the next dominant center in the NBA.

Personally, if I was in charge of the Timberwolves I wouldn’t hesitate at taking Karl-Anthony Towns no. 1 overall. Minnesota has some of the best young talent in the NBA right now with Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and Ricky Rubio. Why go for a risky pick with Okafor when you know what you will be getting with Karl-Anthony Towns. If Towns can develop like I know he is capable of and the rest of the Timberwolves starters really start to find their game, the Wolves’ could be scary in the upcoming years.

The part about potentially drafting D’Angelo Russell seems like complete nonsense to me. It doesn’t matter how NBA ready Russell is, Ricky Rubio is a solid NBA point guard. He isn’t going to carry your team like a Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook, but Minnesota has players who can that flow well with Rubio. Why would you give up one of the two best big men the NBA draft has seen in awhile just to get a point guard whose production would probably match up to something you already have in Rubio? It doesn’t make much sense to me.

Even though the Timberwolves are and up and coming team, there is no reason to go too far off the deep end and select Jahlil Okafor. Towns is the safer pick, and will probably be better for your organization long term. So make the easy selection and go with Karl-Anthony Towns.

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NBA Draft Rumors: Timberwolves are split on Towns and Okafor

By FanSided Staff | Jun 2, 2015

The Minnesota Timberwolves landed the first overall pick in this year’s draft, but they are still deciding on who they want as the no. 1 overall pick.

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