Karl Anthony-Towns will most certainly be a top-five selection in fantasy drafts. After a stellar rookie season which saw Towns record 18.3 points and 10 rebounds, many are expecting big things for his sophomore campaign. And anyone who wishes to have him on their fantasy team will have to pay up big time on draft day.
It’s hard to project a player going into his second year. One season isn’t enough time to really evaluate someone’s career. That’s the situation many find themselves with in Towns. He’s surely worth a top-five selection in most drafts, but can he replicate the numbers from his rookie year?
Towns has a very good shot a repeating last year’s succesful season. In fact, he might even be able to outdo himself. His ability to hit the open jumper, drive to the hoop, and post up game will only improve in year two. And with Tom Thibodeau in the fold, you can expect a greater emphasis on defense, leading to more blocks and rebounds.
As it stands now, Towns is the premier big man of fantasy basketball. Most current mock drafts have Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden as the top-four selections. Those seem to be locks, and fitting in Towns amongst the rest of the first round pegs him in with names such as Kawhii Leonard, Lebron James, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.
The sole reason Towns should be taken over these players is probably his biggest risk, and that’s his potential. You really can’t predict the ceiling of Towns. He’s more than capable of having a 20+ season with 12+ rebounds. Combine that with a .542 field goal percentage and .811 free throw percentage, and you get a player that could become the best center in the NBA.
Look at some of the other big men options in the first round. You have Anthony Davis and Hassan Whiteside, both of whom can be elite PF/C options if they could be relied on to stay healthy for a full season. Cousins is a very comparable player to Towns, but his field goal and free throw percentage is a bit lower than that of Towns.
When picking Towns with a top-five pick you’re getting a reliable scorer, rebounder, and excellent free throw and field goal percentage with unlimited upside. You also know he’s going not going to miss time like some of the other big man options in the first round.
If the combination of Curry, Durant, Westbrook, and Harden are taken, you would be wise to look at the Towns, as a center with good peripherals is hard to come by. He’s really the complete package and can give you a leg up on the competition if you decide to take him in the top-five of your draft.