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NBA Playoffs: 6 young stars ready to make the Ja Morant leap

By Corey Rausch

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies in action in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies in action in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA playoffs Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Young superstars ready for the NBA playoffs: The Young Wolf

Anthony Edwards showed as his rookie year progressed that he is up to the challenge to be a dominant scoring threat in the league. From March 1 on he averaged 23.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game on shooting splits of .451/.341/.765. Perhaps more importantly, he plays with an attitude that Karl-Anthony Towns has always lacked.

Towns is a better player to date, but Edwards has the instincts to take over a game and lead his team to victory on another level than the former All-Star has shown. The Timberwolves have lacked an alpha leader since Jimmy Butler left and that will be essential to make a push in the loading Western Conference.

Edwards’ efficiency is still a work in progress, but he improved greatly under Chris Finch. He is a human highlight reel as a dunker, posterizing many unsuspecting defenders on his path to stardom. Edwards needs the stage for the world to see that Minnesota has finally landed the type of star they can market to the moon. Imaging Edwards on the postgame podium would be a delight. Hopefully the potential new ownership group will be able to get the Timberwolves turned around and with a little lottery luck they will be back in the postseason.