Karl-Anthony Towns Fantasy Outlook & Value 2019-20

After making the playoffs in 2018, the Minnesota Timberwolves had high hopes for last season, expecting to build off their first playoff appearance in over a decade. Unfortunately, things started to implode almost immediately as Jimmy Butler publicly voiced his displeasure with the team and demanded a trade. The team ended up declining and finished with a 36-46 record, missing the playoffs. However, one player that couldn’t be blamed for the Timberwolves disappointing season was Karl-Anthony Towns, who had a pretty spectacular season last year. Averaging 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds on 51.8 percent shooting, Towns reminded everyone of his case as the best big in the league. And for what it’s worth, Towns appears to be excited about and committed to the Timberwolves for the long haul.

Karl-Anthony Towns opens up on the plight of small markets in the NBA, missing out on All-NBA, and being ready to take his game to another level under Gersson Rosas and Ryan Saunders https://t.co/kbhRJnHP92

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) July 22, 2019

 

 

Next season will be the first Towns will enter as the undisputed alpha dog for the team. In a stacked west, it’ll be hard to even make the playoffs, but another big leap from Towns just might be enough to do so. The team seems to be decently equipped to support him. Bigs like Jordan Bell and Gorgui Dieng seem to be compatible with Towns on the court, and Robert Covington is one of the best 3 and D players in the league. Guards like Shabazz Napier and Jeff Teague, while not elite playmakers, should be capable of getting Towns the ball in favorable situations. Andrew Wiggins will once again return to try and provide some scoring relief. Whether or not Towns makes the playoffs, there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be one of the most productive players in the league on the way.

Karl-Anthony Towns Fantasy Stats

GP	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	FT%	3PT%	STL	BLK	TO	FPPG
77	33.1	24.4	12.4	3.4	51.8	83.6	40.0	0.8	1.5	3.1	48.7

Upside

If everything clicks for the Timberwolves, Towns may end up being in the mix for the MVP this season. Not only is he one of the most talented young players in the league, he also happens to be one of the most durable. In his 4-year NBA career, Towns has only missed 5 games. Towns has already proven himself to be one of the most dependable and reliable players in the league but has largely been overlooked by the national media. He’ll definitely look to change that this season, and there’s a lot of reason to believe he’ll succeed. His ridiculously high ceiling is a season where he plays all 82 games and averages 28 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks.

Floor

Despite being one of the most prodigal talents in the NBA, there have been times when Towns has appeared hesitant to take control. Part of that is probably because he was unsure of his place on the team early in his career, initially playing second fiddle to Wiggins than to Butler. Having to play under Tom Thibodeau early in his career, who is notoriously tough on youngsters, likely didn’t help. Although he’s now the undisputed leader of the team and is playing under a much more amicable coach now in Ryan Saunders, there’s still reason to worry he may shrink from the spotlight yet again. It’s unlikely he falls below all star level, but it’s possible we can see him stagnate and not quite reach the superstar level of production. His floor is a 22 point per game, 10 rebound per game, 3 assist per game, and 1 block per game season.

What to Expect

Towns is currently ranked as the best center in fantasy and 5th best player overall and is expected to be drafted in the 1st round. He holds an auction value of $59. This is pretty solid value for Towns, as he’s anticipated to be one of the most productive players in the league and a contender for the 1st overall pick. Given his track record and youth, you should have no qualms selecting him this high, as he’ll likely be the centerpiece of your team.

Once the most hyped team in the league, the enthusiasm over the Timberwolves has died down a lot compared to just a year ago. It doesn’t help that the Timberwolves harbor one of the worst contracts in the league with Andrew Wiggins, who remains one of the most disappointing players in the league. However, none of that changes the fact that Towns might possibly be the most rounded big man in the league, especially when you factor in durability. Personally, I think Towns has a monster season and keeps the Timberwolves in contention for the last playoff spot all year long. I’m expecting a season where he averages 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists.