Timberwolves meeting with Karl-Anthony Towns, Flip Saunders still an 'Okafor guy'

The Minnesota Timberwolves will break the NBA Draft seal with the top pick on June 25, but its front office is still weighing whether it will be Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor at No. 1. Towns will meet with Timberwolves officials on Friday, though it's unclear whether he'll work out for the team, reports Shams Charania of Real GM.

This meeting could help the franchise come to a consensus, as Flip Saunders is still said to favor Okafor while the majority of his staff is pushing for Towns, Chad Ford of ESPN noted in his latest mock draft. He also mentions that Flip recently attended a Towns workout in California. Following the workout Chad 'kept getting assured' Saunders will ultimately decide Karl-Anthony is the best fit for Minnesota, but that it's far from a "done deal." Still, Ford projected Towns as the No. 1 pick and Okafor to the Lakers.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has attempted to bring Towns in for a private meeting but has yet to land a one-on-one. He "expects" Towns will eventually meet with the team, though it remains to be seen. Karl-Anthony has been working out in Los Angeles, so it doesn't seem like it'd be difficult to at least set up an interview even if he's sticking to staying away from actual workouts.

If Towns does work out for Minnesota, that'd be a huge get for Saunders that could seal the deal one way or the other. The Timberwolves also hosted Okafor in Minnesota, and it's still a race between the two big men, according to Ford (ESPN Insider):

It's a two-man race between Towns and Jahlil Okafor for the No. 1 pick, multiple sources say, even though the Wolves also have been trying to get in D'Angelo Russell, traveled to Vegas to see Kristaps Porzingis and are bringing in Emmanuel Mudiay. Which guy will they take? General manager and coach Flip Saunders has been an Okafor guy all year, but most of his staff is pushing for Towns, who will be a better fit given Minnesota's personnel. Saunders traveled to Thousand Oaks last week to watch Towns work out. After the workout, I kept getting assured that Flip will ultimately turn Towns' way. But it's not a done deal. Okafor was in Minnesota on Tuesday and Wednesday.

1a, 1b continues.