For Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Jahlil Okafor is a question of philosophy
With the first pick in the NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select ... a fascinating window into how Flip Saunders values big men. It's a sign of how quickly the NBA has evolved that Saunders has become an old-school basketball man.
The Timberwolves' coach and president of basketball operations ran a team that ranked dead last in three-point attempts, which was in keeping with his team's historical record of eschewing the three for long-range twos. Not so long ago that was a winning formula with the Pistons, who employed one of the game's last great mid-range artists in Rip Hamilton.
It's not that it can't work, it's just much harder to make a living that way in today's game. That was in evidence during Saunders' runs with the Wizards and last year's Wolves, whose injury-depleted roster was notably lacking in shooters of any kind.
Were this 10 years ago there would not be much of a debate. Jahlil Okafor has everything you'd want in a top pick. He was the first freshman to win ACC Player of the Year and he did it for a team that won the national championship.
Okafor is going to be a monster scorer, the kind of big you build with if you want to play inside out with a force on the low block. He brings elite size and a package of skills that include NBA-ready post moves, a shooter's touch and advanced footwork. Once he becomes established, he'll command double-teams in the post and use his passing acumen to find cutters like Andrew Wiggins, last year's top pick and the reigning Rookie of the Year.
The only problem is it's not 10 years ago and most teams don't want to play that way anymore. They value spacing on offense and rim protection on defense. Okafor's offensive strengths are minimized by his defensive shortcomings. Modern big men are also expected to step out and shoot 18-20 footers if not extend all the way to the three-point line, leaving the paint open for slashers and creators to drive to the basket.
That's what Karl-Anthony Towns brings to the equation, along with a defensive reputation enhanced by his one season at Kentucky where he focused on rebounding and blocking shots. While not a featured part of Kentucky's offense, Towns has shown an ability to extend his range to the perimeter. His rough edges offensively can be smoothed out in time as he grows into his body.
Just about every team in the league would happily make Towns the top pick and be perfectly content knowing they have the most expensive spot on the roster filled with a cost-controlled 19-year-old. Yet, only one team has the top pick and that team is said to be enamored with Okafor's game.
Okafor would be a huge boost offensively for any team, but the Wolves already have an offensive-minded big man in Nikola Pekovic who plays close to the basket and is a liability on the defensive end. Pek also happens to have three years left on his deal at around $12 million a year. No player is untradeable, but dealing the 29-year-old Pekovic after an injury-ravaged season would be selling extremely low.
Towns would offer the kind of rim-protecting big man they've been missing for years with a much-higher offensive upside than Gorgui Dieng. They'd still need shooting all over the floor, but Towns and Wiggins would have the makings of a terrific defensive combination. With Ricky Rubio back at full strength and Zach LaVine moved to the wing, Minnesota could be transformed overnight into a long and athletic marvel along the lines of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Saunders told reporters after the lottery that they haven't made up their mind about the selection. Okafor and Towns both skipped the Chicago pre-draft combine and their individual workouts will be crucial in the evaluation.
If the Wolves take Okafor the rest of the lottery selections will round nicely into focus. The Lakers can add Towns to pair with Julius Randle and maybe even rescue Rajon Rondo to stage a Kentucky-led revival. The 76ers would then have their pick of lead guards between D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay to team up with Sam Hinkie's stash of bigs. The Knicks would do whatever it is the Knicks do.
If Minnesota takes Towns, this could get messy. Would Okafor still be the clear-cut second choice for a team that already has a low-post option in Randle or would Mudiay be in play? Would Hinkie still get his man? The Knicks will do whatever it is the Knicks do.
The decision is in Flip Saunders' hands. He will either buck the modern basketball ethos with a nod to his old-school roots, or embrace it by passing on what once was the model of conventional wisdom.
, acting like scouts haven't been keeping tabs on these dudes since Probly their soph/junior year in high school ....only similarity between Exums situation and Mudiay is that their both entering the draft coming from another country ...Anybody who follows high school recruiting know that's Mudiay and Okafor were seen as the clear top 2 picks in this draft heading into the college season , they were on their own teir of prospects ....difference is Fans get to see the top college players anytime they want , while Mudiay is out of sight out of mind ...if he goes to smu , he's the clear best guard prospect in this draft just like he was a year ago
