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Should Timberwolves draft Karl-Anthony Towns?

By Sam Richmond

Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) drives to the basket against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) drives to the basket against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Octavius Ellis (2) during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will the Minnesota Timberwolves use their No. 1 overall draft choice on Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns?

The Minnesota Timberwolves were the NBA’s big winner during Tuesday night’s draft lottery, as they were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft.

With the T-Wolves now unofficially on the clock, the question obviously becomes: who will they take?

The most likely selection for the Timberwolves would figure to be be Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns. The 19-year-old thrived during his lone season under head coach John Calipari, displaying NBA-ready talent all year long.

Towns averaged 10.3 points (56.6 percent shooting from the field), 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during the regular season. He also had success during the NCAA tournament, especially against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Elite Eight, posting 25 points and five rebounds.

Towns has all the attributes one could want in a big-man draft prospect. He can score inside and block/alter shots at a high level. He’s also a long and athletic seven-footer with plenty of room to grow.

DraftExpress currently ranks Towns as the No.1 overall prospect and writes the following of him:

"Towns’ positional versatility on both ends of the floor makes him something of the prototype for your modern day NBA big man. He can protect the rim and score inside the paint like a center, but is also capable of stepping away from the rim guarding the pick and roll or as a floor-spacer on the perimeter. It’s extremely difficult to find players who can do all these different things, which could easily convince a team to use the #1 pick on him should he decide to enter this year’s draft."

Towns also represents a need on the Timberwolves’ roster. With Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins all in the fold on the perimeter, this is a team that would be much better off adding a big man. Furthermore, as a versatile big, Towns would fit well alongside Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic, who is more of a traditional big.

While likely, this move isn’t a lock to happen. The Timberwolves might opt to instead grab Duke’s Jahlil Okafor, who shined last season under Mike Krzyzewski.

In fact, rumors are already swirling that Minnesota prefers Okafor.

But, if those rumors are true, the T-Wolves would be wise to change their opinion. Towns fills a need and has the most upside of anybody in the draft. He should be their choice.

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