T-Wolves Taking KAT #1 Overall

[MWes11]

N B A T A L K ‏@Talk_NBA_ 8m8 minutes ago
Report: The Minnesota Timberwolves have informed Kentucky PF Karl Anthony-Towns that they will draft him with the 1st overall pick

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan]

Congrats to KAT. He will be one hell of a pro imo.

 

[gossie21]

before John Calipari... no #1 picks for UK.
6 years since John Calipari... 3 #1 picks for UK.

Amazing. Crazy. Brothers' keeper. Best version of themselves. Like... what?!?! And lemme tell ya. Poop ice cream.

And it should have been 4 #1 picks. I still can't believe Cleveland picked Bennett over Nerlens. That's just plain idiotic.

 

[bookerfan66]

He and Wiggins make a very talented duo and they have other young talent.I have a new team to root for.

 

[jgraf_1]

And it should have been 4 #1 picks. I still can't believe Cleveland picked Bennett over Nerlens. That's just plain idiotic.

And just think if they did draft nerlens...it is entirely possible that the cavs could have had lebron, irving, wiggins, and nerlens all on one team this year.

 

[gossie21]

It's also interesting that Minnesota w

And just think if they did draft nerlens...it is entirely possible that the cavs could have had lebron, irving, wiggins, and nerlens all on one team this year.

I always thought trading for Love was a bad idea. They should have kept Wiggins and had Lebron mentor him.

 

[bucsrule8872]

And it should have been 4 #1 picks. I still can't believe Cleveland picked Bennett over Nerlens. That's just plain idiotic.

If Noel hadn't gotten hurt, it would have been four top picks since coming to UK and five total (Rose at Memphis).

No one is even close over the last eight drafts. Four top picks in eight drafts.

Since coming to UK, only Duke, KU, and UNLV have also produced a #1. UNLV produced a dud (so far). Duke gets limited credit for Irving (only played 11 games for K).

How can these kids be so gullible that they buy the negative recruiting against Cal? 17 and 18 year olds aren't known for good decision making, but where are the parents that should be protecting their best interest?

I blame the parents more than the kids.

 

[rabidcatfan]

Always hated the T-Wolves, but I guess I'ma have to start following them now. Congrats to KAT and his family, and especially congrats to Flip Saunders and the T-Wolves. They are about to draft Kevin Garnett part two.

That makes three #1 draft picks in the last six seasons for Coach Cal (four in the last 8 seasons for him if you count Rose going #1 in 2008). Not to mention 3 other top 5 picks in the same 6 year span and then Knight going #8 in 2011, Noel going #6 in 2013, and Randle going at #7 last year, Coach Cal has had a helluva run here at UK. Maybe he could add a few more to his lottery picks list after Thursday night if Booker, WCS, and Lyles go where they think they might. That is an epic list of talent for one coach over such a short period of time.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Always hated the T-Wolves, but I guess I'ma have to start following them now. Congrats to KAT and his family, and especially congrats to Flip Saunders and the T-Wolves. They are about to draft Kevin Garnett part two.

That makes three #1 draft picks in the last six seasons for Coach Cal (four in the last 8 seasons for him if you count Rose going #1 in 2008). Not to mention 3 other top 5 picks in the same 6 year span and then Knight going #8 in 2011, Noel going #6 in 2013, and Randle going at #7 last year, Coach Cal has had a helluva run here at UK. Maybe he could add a few more to his lottery picks list after Thursday night if Booker, WCS, and Lyles go where they think they might. That is an epic list of talent for one coach over such a short period of time.

I thought for sure the T-Wolves would screw this one up, but luckily they didn't. Congrats to KAT and the T-Wolves!

 

[gossie21]

Always hated the T-Wolves, but I guess I'ma have to start following them now. Congrats to KAT and his family, and especially congrats to Flip Saunders and the T-Wolves. They are about to draft Kevin Garnett part two.

That makes three #1 draft picks in the last six seasons for Coach Cal (four in the last 8 seasons for him if you count Rose going #1 in 2008). Not to mention 3 other top 5 picks in the same 6 year span and then Knight going #8 in 2011, Noel going #6 in 2013, and Randle going at #7 last year, Coach Cal has had a helluva run here at UK. Maybe he could add a few more to his lottery picks list after Thursday night if Booker, WCS, and Lyles go where they think they might. That is an epic list of talent for one coach over such a short period of time.

This is the 6th NBA draft since Calipari became UK's coach. During that time he has had at least one recruit drafted in the top-10 each year, and in 2010, 11, 12, and 15 (likely) he has had 2 top-10 draft picks. Depending on how things break this year he may even have 3 recruits go in the top-10.

I just don't understand how recruits can trust other coaches with their future careers. I certainly wouldn't bank on Dana Altman to protect my future $million career.

 

[jte123]

I think it was a mistake for the CAVS which I dislike to trade Wiggins but anyway if Minny takes Towns they will be in good shape especially if Rubio can stay healthy. I am real interested to see what the Lakers do at number 2, they have 2 first round picks. Would you take Okafor or Russell? perhaps a trade? plus lots of free agents this year and next I think.

 

[Rhavicc]

It really is amazing when you sit and listen to KAT's story. Starts with when he won the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, and him giving his speech, thanking his mom and dad spending a lot of their time and money building a makeshift court in their back yard, and having to scrap some things together because the family couldn't afford to get an actual ball goal. Karl and his family were just a normal family out of New Jersey trying to scrape up enough money to live on. Karl gets his shot at UK, and improves tremendously. Becomes one of the most dominant post players in college basketball last season after coming in, and having no post game at all, to say the least. Kid worked hard, shaped up his body quite a bit, learned some new skills, and now has a much more complete game. Now this kid from a low income family out of Jersey is about to become a multimillionaire, and should have a terrific career while providing for his family, potentially for generations.
A lot of people on here give Cal flak for the things he says, but if you don't smile about stories like that, you have no heart. Not hard to see why Cal is so adamant that this is why he loves his job. It really offers a lot of opportunities to a lot of families in really tight spots. In the past 6 years, Kentucky has produced nearly $1 billion in accumulated wealth for players coming through our basketball program, yet there are some people here that would probably rather throw that ~billion dollars away for maybe one more title, and that's selfish. The players have went out and became very successful. Just this past week, Boogie Cousins (now possibly a top 3 center in the league) donated $25,000 to a high school in Sacremento, hosted a free basketball camp for kids, and also arranged for all the kids to have free vision testing. I'm proud to be a Kentucky fan, and a fan of our players because of these kinds of things, aside from the tons of success that we've been seeing from our basketball program. Wouldn't change it even a little.

 

[lacocat]

Kat and Wiggins duo should develop nicely in Minnesota, both can score and good defenders. Their big stars like Garnett and Love eventually leave, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out for them. West just keeps getting stronger.

 

[RondoBaller21]

Very nice to hear!! Took my mind off Murray for a little while. 3 #1 picks under Cal, yet Murray is picking Oregon and he wants to be the #1 Pick??? Yeah that sounds about right. Something don't smell right

 

[cardsfan53]

Minnesota has no good young pieces with LaVine, Rubio, Dieng, and the foreign center isn't bad when he's healthy. If Bennett and Shabazz could ever live up to expectations they have a solid team.

 

[jwhite123]

LaVine, Wiggins and KAT could be a good young nucleus. One more year in the lottery and the TWolves could be a team to reckon with in the future.

 

[Rhavicc]

Looks like Towns has a pretty big fan.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Dang that building is tall.

 

[Kycatspaws]

Definitely a good choice and may he have a long and successful career.

 

[bucsrule8872]

Good timing on this.

Murray reportedly commits to Oregon. KAT gets word he is the #1 pick. It is announced. Reports close to Murray say the reports about his committment were false. Hmmm... maybe the kid has had a change of heart now that he sees what Cal does for players. A little dose of reality? Second thoughts about passing on a golden opportunity on the eve of another UK player going #1?

I kid, but...

 

[Big_C_KU]

So glad he'll be the pick. Definitely fits needs and style with the roster. KAT and Wiggins will be dynamite. Such upside with those 2. With Wiggins, KAT, Rubio, Dieng, Muhammad, and LaVine they have a heck of a young nucleus. They are a few veterans away from being a playoff contender in a year or 2.

 

[DodgerDukie1985]

And it should have been 4 #1 picks. I still can't believe Cleveland picked Bennett over Nerlens. That's just plain idiotic.

Oladipo or Greek Freak would also have been far better choices.

But congrats to Karl-Anthony Towns. He certainly earned the #1 overall pick with the way he played for UK

 

[Hoskins91]

And it should have been 4 #1 picks. I still can't believe Cleveland picked Bennett over Nerlens. That's just plain idiotic.

Right now, I'd say Oladipo should've been the number one pick, but it's still early.