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Minnesota Timberwolves: Who’s prowling and who’s panting

By James Grieco

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Derrick Rose #25 and head coach Tom Tibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts as Rose is called for a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 131-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 19: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Derrick Rose #25 and head coach Tom Tibodeau of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts as Rose is called for a technical foul during the third quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Cavaliers 131-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Panting: Karl-Anthony Towns (and his attitude)

Through five games, Karl-Anthony Towns’ numbers look pedestrian for someone with his talent: 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.8 turnovers per game on an effective field goal percentage of exactly 50 percent. It isn’t the stats alone that have cast such a dark shadow over Towns so far this season, however — he has been pouting at an all-time high.

Why is that? Hopefully the only reason is Jimmy Butler, because if this is the case, then once Butler’s traded KAT can rest easy that his own personal tormentor is gone. If Towns has beef with how the entire Timberwolves organization has handled the Butler trade saga, well, the entire year (especially if Thibodeau remains head coach) could get extremely awkward.

It’s no secret that Towns signed his five-year, $190 million super-max extension days after Butler declared that he wanted out of Minnesota. Did that have anything to do with Butler’s announcement? We’ll never know, but it hardly seems a coincidence with all the rumored tension between the two All-Star-caliber players.

In the interim, while Butler remains fixed as the centerpiece of a team that probably should be KAT’s, Towns has had to endure Butler targeting him and calling him “soft.” Sure, things between the two on the court seem fine, with them high-fiving and helping each other up from the floor, but this whole situation has clearly messed with Karl-Anthony Towns’ mental well-being.

After a wretched preseason, Towns noted that the key to the season would be defense:

And yet, his defense, aside from Monday’s victory against the Indiana Pacers, has been as bad as ever. Wolves fans rejoiced after both KAT and the team as a whole played a magnificent game against Indiana, but just days later in Toronto, he was back to being in his own head. Wolves color commentator Jim Peterson was so disheveled he even called Towns out on it.

Whatever is going on with Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves desperately need to get him mentally right or they risk irreparable damage (if it isn’t already done) with one of the best players the franchise has ever drafted.

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