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Three bold predictions for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020-21

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 12: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason game at Target Center on December 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 107-105. 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, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 12: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the preseason game at Target Center on December 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 107-105. 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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Minnesota Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Bold Prediction #2 – Karl-Anthony Towns finishes top-3 in total rebounds

The Minnesota Timberwolves don’t really have anyone in their frontcourt, well, at least other than Karl-Anthony Towns. Getting rebounds is one of the least important stats in the box score. That said, Towns should be a monster on the boards this season, being the main contributor in the paint – with the next man presumably being Jake Layman.

Towns finished seventh in total rebounds back in the 2018-19 season, just seven total rebounds behind the next-best finisher, Russell Westbrook. Andre Drummond has been the de facto leader in rebounds in four of the last five seasons, but in his limited games in Cleveland, was seemingly in a lesser role, thus grabbing less rebounds per game.

Not only this, but it seems as though Cleveland does not view Drummond as their long-term option at center, meaning he might not be getting as many minutes as he did in Detroit. Presumably, Hassan Whiteside, who grabbed the second-most boards last season, will also take a step back, due to signing a small, one-year contract with the Kings. He is behind Marvin Bagley and Richaun Holmes in the rotation in Sacramento, so he won’t be putting up the stats that he did, either.

Remaining at the top of the leaderboard for rebounds is Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jonas Valanciunas, and Towns had more boards per game in 2018-19 than Valanciunas did this past season.

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