Despite declining to offer specifics, Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas feels optimistic about Karl-Anthony Towns‘ wrist injury, Chris Hine of the Star Tribune writes.
Towns suffered a fractured wrist on Feb. 10 and missed each of the remaining games before the season was suspended indefinitely. Before suffering the injury, he was putting up per-game averages of 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.
“At the right time we’ll make a formal announcement of where things are at, but to be fair out of respect for Karl and what he’s living through right now, we want to make sure and give him his space and his opportunity to work through things moving forward,” Rosas said. “Big picture, we feel positive about that situation and when the time is right we’ll share more details on the specifics of that.”
Towns’ mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, tragically passed away from coronavirus complications in April. His father also contracted the virus and has since recovered.
Minnesota was one of eight teams that didn’t qualify for the NBA’s restart, owning just a 19-45 record on the season. The team will now shift its focus to next season with hopes of successfully building around the likes of Towns and star teammate D’Angelo Russell going forward.
Here are some other notes out of Minnesota tonight:
- In a separate article for the Star Tribune, Chris Hine examines the T-Wolves’ patience throughout the season before finally pulling the plug and making a blockbuster trade to acquire Russell at the NBA’s trade deadline. “I’m not doing my job if I’m not coming in every day to figure out ways to improve our roster and find the best players we can find,” Rosas said. “I love our group, I like the potential that they have, but to be fair, it’s potential right now, and they’re young players and it’s a young team. So can we do our part to help them become the best players they can be, and can they fit in our organization and in our roster to maximize our vision?”
- Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic examines the pros and cons of Minnesota being left out of the NBA’s restart plan in Orlando. The team is working to collaborate with the other franchises not playing in Orlando on multiple options, including the possibility of hosting competitive practices together. “Not being able to get that last month-plus was definitely something we wanted in terms of our continuity as we went towards the summer,” head coach Ryan Saunders said. “That’s another reason why this is going to be important for us to be able to get some time together as a group.”
Towns is in the exact same situation as Garnett was before he finally got traded to Boston. The Wolves have exactly one division title in 30 years.
That’s insulting to KG. Drive and heart it’s not even close. One was frustrated about losing. KAT cashing checks for non-playoff team.
Don’t know man, over their first 5 seasons in the league KAT is overwhelmingly better than KG, at the end of their career who knows, but I think the KAT will be better, he has more tools & class than KG, heart & passion can only take you so far, but pure talent like the KAT is unique!
KG was undoubtedly a top 4 forward in the league with two way impact on the game.
KAT has resting b*tch face and is a spectator on D.
Come on. KAT is more Kevin Love than KG.
Exactly!
Plenty of High School Basketball Programs in Minnesota could give the Timberpuppies a run for their money. Both male teams and female teams.
(Sounds like the plot for a basketball movie)
You are relentless.
So is the sorry history of this franchise.
Okongwu and Toppin are guaranteed top 5 picks
Wolves need them
Wolves should package their 2020 1st and Culver for Arron Gordon, 2020 1st (PF).
Then resign Beasley.
Playoff City with a big 4.
Wolves are young. They have two #1 picks in this draft. Two young all stars. They’ll be fine. Best teams in West. Will all be down in 3 yrs. KAT, DRuss will be 27. And the young talent will be growing up. There’s light at end of tunnel. Can’t mess up this draft. Toppin or Okongwu would be a great pick IMO. With 16th pick there be a solid player there. Like Maledon or McDaniels.
I like KAT a lot. But he has a long way to go. To be better than KG. Slow your Roll