Gersson Rosas on Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves bubble

Gersson Rosas spoke to the media about the Minnesota Timberwolves’ ongoing in-market bubble.

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas spoke to a number of aspects of the team’s In-Market Bubble during a Friday media availability.

Not only was he asked about Karl-Anthony Towns‘ apparent absence from the bubble, Rosas also spoke about a player who has had an impressive start to the camp.

Gersson Rosas on Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves bubble

Of course, one of the major questions surrounding the Wolves’ ongoing In-Market Bubble is whether or not Towns will be participating. As recently as last week, Rosas was reporting that everyone, save for Juancho Hernangomez (filming a movie), Omari Spellman (will be traded), and Evan Turner (expiring contract).

Things appear to have unfolded a bit differently than what was originally planned.

Late in the week, a report surfaced that Towns was “as good as gone” from the Wolves. That was on the heels of a TMZ report (also noted at the previous link) that Towns was on a boat celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday instead of being at the In-Market Bubble.

While those two things aren’t necessarily related at all, the optics certainly aren’t ideal. Rosas spoke to Towns’ absence during his Friday media availability.

Rosas was clearly responding in a way that covers not only Towns but also Hernangomez, who had a prior commitment to participate in the Adam Sandler movie shoot.

It certainly sounds as though there’s a chance that Towns enters the bubble in the coming days. Remember, there’s more than a week remaining, so perhaps the agreement was simply that Towns would be out for this trip and then come back.

Rosas also spoke to just how impressive Jarred Vanderbilt has been thus far in the bubble.

"Jarred Vanderbilt, who was traded to the Timberwolves in February, is one of the players that has stood out during the atypical offseason.“He’s done well here, not only these two weeks, but since the individual platforms started. He’s got an urgency to him that’s pretty intriguing,” said Rosas."

Vanderbilt was acquired as part of the four-team deal prior to the trade deadline that also brought Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez to Minnesota. He was part of somewhat of a swap on the side of the trade, as the Wolves sent Keita Bates-Diop to Denver to acquire Vanderbilt.

The former top high-school recruit was the No. 41 pick by Denver in 2018 and hasn’t had much of a chance at the NBA level, but his size and athleticism are intriguing. The Timberwolves no doubt think that he can contribute nearly immediately as a defensive force and solid depth in the frontcourt.

Hopefully, Towns will be able to make it into the bubble in the coming days. For now, the Wolves will work with what they have inside the In-Market Bubble.