Karl Anthony Towns is one of the most skilled big men in basketball and has been the face of the Timberwolves franchise for almost his entire career.
This year, he’s not the Most Valuable Wolf. Not even close.
Remember that as the Wolves move forward without Towns. He will have surgery to repair a torn left meniscus and will need several weeks to recover.
He hopes to return to assist in the Wolves postseason. And he will be needed as the Wolves navigate what looks to be a combative Western Conference bracket.
The Wolves will need his size and scoring then. They can get by without him now.
This is more a reflection of how the Wolves have progressed this season rather than an indictment on KAT: I have him as the fourth-most important Wolves player on the roster. There are three players who the Wolves would miss more if they were out of the lineup for an extended period of time. It should be easy to figure out the other three.
Top of the list: Mr. Wolf, Anthony Edwards. The Wolves blew a 17-point first-half lead on Thursday against Indiana and were on the verge of suffering a disappointing defeat — until Edwards decided that wasn’t going to happen. He twice left the game when he was banged up but returned both times to score 44 points and drive the Wolves to a 113-111 victory. His performance included one of the highlights of the NBA season, when he raced downcourt, rocketed into the air and blocked a layup attempt that would have tied the game. If teams can’t stop Edwards, they lose.
If Mike Conley is out of the lineup for several weeks, the Wolves offense, which sputters at times, would be severely hampered. There is no one else on the team who’s a floor general, and basketball savant on the court as well as a wise old soul in the locker room. And he can throw in a three-pointer when needed. Edwards could run the offense, but he’s better served as a dangerous, basket-hunting No. 2 guard.
