Karl Towns killing it in interviews

[KMKAT]

Shouldn't surprise anyone; on NBA XM this am, and a video interview by USAToday on hoopshype.com:

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

There's no way I'm passing on him, no matter what slot I'm selecting. KAT has a friendship with Carmelo. Wouldn't surprise me if Leon Rose becomes KAT's agent....no agent picked as of yet.

http://www.app.com/story/sports/col...towns-kentucky-basketball-nba-draft/26833589/

NBA Draft Lottery is May 19, which will clear up the mystery some as to where KAT will end up.

 

[GonzoCat90]

He's huge, he's talented, he's versatile, he's intelligent, he's mature, he's responsible, he's coachable, he's skilled, he's young, he's loaded with upside, he's humble, he's healthy---there are no red flags with this kid.

Absolutely the first pick in the draft, and the face of a franchise on and off the court.

 

[hotelblue]

although you forgot confident and hard working. he will develop into that star rather quickly. his progression at uk was scary. and he will get way stronger in the nba as you know. he takes and hits big shots in the post. mentally he sure seems ready.

 

[wcc31]

Out of all the stud freshmen we've had at UK, only Davis improved more exponentially from November to March. It was amazing to see. In January, he was the fourth best of our freshmen.

Just a special kid.

 

[TheFolker]

Hopefully he ends up with the Knicks.

 

[beamer_at_uk]

He's huge, he's talented, he's versatile, he's intelligent, he's mature, he's responsible, he's coachable, he's skilled, he's young, he's loaded with upside, he's humble, he's healthy---there are no red flags with this kid.

Absolutely the first pick in the draft, and the face of a franchise on and off the court.

I fully agree. Problem is some GMs are so scared of getting fired that they will ignore all that. They're scared to death Jahlil will turn into the next superstar, and they'll look stupid for playing it "safe."

I don't agree about the safe part, btw. I think Karl can absolutely be a superstar and the better choice. But the media has been all over Okafor since forever.

So who knows. I'd say it's about 50/50. Depends on the franchise.

 

[StubbornPenny]

Great kid, and I hope he pimps Kentucky at every available opportunity. That's what helps us the most.

 

[gossie21]

I fully agree. Problem is some GMs are so scared of getting fired that they will ignore all that. They're scared to death Jahlil will turn into the next superstar, and they'll look stupid for playing it "safe."

I don't agree about the safe part, btw. I think Karl can absolutely be a superstar and the better choice. But the media has been all over Okafor since forever.

So who knows. I'd say it's about 50/50. Depends on the franchise.

I'm not sure what you mean. Nearly all of the mock drafts have Karl going #1 because of his versatility and defense. Playing it safe right now would mean pick Karl not Okafor.

 

[kybassfan]

He's huge, he's talented, he's versatile, he's intelligent, he's mature, he's responsible, he's coachable, he's skilled, he's young, he's loaded with upside, he's humble, he's healthy---there are no red flags with this kid.

Absolutely the first pick in the draft, and the face of a franchise on and off the court.

Well . . .

He does walk slow.

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

Hopefully he ends up with the Knicks.

I want Sac. Kings to win the lottery and take him.

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

Well . . .

He does walk slow.

They'll have to extend the time limit due to his walking up on stage at the draft.

 

[beamer_at_uk]

I'm not sure what you mean. Nearly all of the mock drafts have Karl going #1 because of his versatility and defense. Playing it safe right now would mean pick Karl not Okafor.

I'm not saying it's true, and you make a fair point about the tide turning in Karl's favor over the last two months, but it just seems that the non-mock-draft members of the media are in the "Jahlil Okafor will be a transcendent player" camp.

 

[EdNygma]

I hope he does not get stuck on a team with Carmello. That guy is a great talent but is a roster killer and not someone I would ever associate the word 'teammate' with. KAT deserves better than that.

 

[coolcat9lives]

There is only about 4 or 5 teams in the lottery that don't need a big man per say. Most of those teams are too low in the lottery projections to be major players for picks 1-3. Philadelphia is the only team in the vicinity that could pass on him. Anything is possible with that front office though.

 

[Lumpy 2]

He's huge, he's talented, he's versatile, he's intelligent, he's mature, he's responsible, he's coachable, he's skilled, he's young, he's loaded with upside, he's humble, he's healthy---there are no red flags with this kid.

Absolutely the first pick in the draft, and the face of a franchise on and off the court.

Other than that, there's not much to like about him though.

 

[BBUK]

I'm not saying it's true, and you make a fair point about the tide turning in Karl's favor over the last two months, but it just seems that the non-mock-draft members of the media are in the "Jahlil Okafor will be a transcendent player" camp.

Unless you need a 50% FT shooter when the pressure is on... I know they won but we are talking individually now... He be tanking. heck even Shaq could hit a FT when at a crucial juncture.....

 

[BlueBlood66]

I'm not saying it's true, and you make a fair point about the tide turning in Karl's favor over the last two months, but it just seems that the non-mock-draft members of the media are in the "Jahlil Okafor will be a transcendent player" camp.

I haven't heard the word "transcendent" mentioned with Okafor in a long time. He's very skilled and will be a really good pro but most the media have realized that Towns' versatility and defense has put him over the top for now.

I did see a tweet yesterday that Okafor showed up at workouts looking leaner and fitter than ever.

 

[kybassfan]

They'll have to extend the time limit due to his walking up on stage at the draft.

Time for a commercial break before our first pick!

 

[KMKAT]

How crazy would it be if he ended up in LA? They're right on the cusp of getting a shot at him.

Would Kobe abuse him or mentor him?

 

[Double Oaked Juice]

How crazy would it be if he ended up in LA? They're right on the cusp of getting a shot at him.

Would Kobe abuse him or mentor him?

probably a little of both, i'd say.

 

[musrat59]

Whoever drafts him gets a bonus with Karlito.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

How crazy would it be if he ended up in LA? They're right on the cusp of getting a shot at him.

Would Kobe abuse him or mentor him?

Kobe is nearly done. I'd say (if he can even stay healthy) next year or the year after is his last. He has passed Jordan on the scoring list, has no shot at another title, etc, so not much left to do except hopefully have one more fully healthy season, have a solid year stats wise, maybe make a run at a 7/8 seed in the west and win a game or two in the first round and call it a career. I'm a Lakers fan, and I know he is pretty much done due to injuries. It sucks he had to get hurt and go out this way, but if he had stayed healthy the Lakers would not have had a shot at keeping their first round pick this year. Now they do.

Honestly the Lakers probably go after a guard I'd guess as I doubt they get the 1-2 pick to get Towns or Okafor. I think they sign Love in free agency, maybe Rondo but not unless he comes at a discount due to recent events, and maybe make a run at another big name guy in 2016 as the salary cap keeps going up and up, which should help bigger market teams like LA and NY.

 

[irishcat1965]

Okafor doesn't play a lick of defense and he
might as well drop kick the basketball towards the goal when he is at the free throw line.

 

[KentuckyWildcat4Life]

I'd love to see him in a Kentucky uniform for three more years

 

[YouKay]

He is a lucky kid. Some really great historic franchises will be in the lottery this year. Or he could even end up with OKC, how scary would that be? I have no doubt the Knicks will take him if they can, whether at #1 or elsewhere. There's a reason Phil Jackson came to Rupp this year.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

Okafor doesn't play a lick of defense and he
might as well drop kick the basketball towards the goal when he is at the free throw line.

LMAO pretty hilarious. Unfortunately for Duke, this was true quite often. Seriously though, I actually don't think Okafor's stroke is bad. His percentage should be able to improve if he gets more mentally confident.
But I will say although I'd give Jahlil the edge in regards to just post up game only, Karl Anthony-Towns is certainly the better all around player. Better on defense (we certainly saw Jah's issues against Kaminsky in the title game; Amile Jefferson did a considerably better job on him), his offensive game extends well beyond the post up game (although Jah did show off a nice off the glass jump shot in the Final Four) and is an excellent free throw shooter for a guy his size as well. As a Duke fan, I'd love to see Jahlil go first overall, but I'd be more than understanding if whoever got the first pick (I'm expecting it'll be the Knicks TBH) decided Karl Anthony-Towns was a better selection.