As expected, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns bags the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after posting borderline All-Star numbers in his first season. Now, it will be interesting to see who the team will draft this June to complement his talents.
Towns, the number one overall pick of the 2015 draft, has been phenomenal all season long. He finished with 18.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, similar to future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan's numbers during his rookie year, ESPN reported. He stepped up even more during the second half of the season as he averaged 21.3 points on 55 percent shooting and grabbing 11.7 boards per ball game.
The potential of the 19 year-old Towns was in full display during the regular season. He showcased his ball-handling skills during All-Star Weekend in the Skills Challenge which he won. Also, he showed that he can shoot from downtown as he was able to knock down 34 percent of his three-point attempts.
His work ethic is the key to his success as Towns is said to be a gym rat and a perfectionist. Even when he was still playing for Kentucky, his game gradually improved until he ended the tournament with a full arsenal of low post moves.
"People who know me know I'm never satisfied. I've never felt like I've had a good game," The publication quoted Towns saying earlier this season. "It's hard to get me to even say I played good. That's just in me. I'm just never satisfied.
Perhaps, another accomplishment Towns could have wished he also got is bringing his team to the postseason. However, the team finished with a 29-53 record, the third lowest in the Western Conference. Hence, it will be crucial for the Wolves to draft the right player to complete the puzzle.
The Wolves are currently projected to draft in the top five and they are in the position to draft Providence PG Kris Dunn. Aside from his leadership, the senior is also known for his athleticism and above average three-point shooting, which is lacking in current PG Ricky Rubio, NBA reported.
Should they be able to land Dunn, they will have a very potent line-up of Gorgui Dieng at center, Towns at PF, Andrew Wiggins at SF, Zach Lavine at SG and Dunn or Rubio at PG. Here are some highlights of Dunn in his final season with Providence.