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Lakers: Four young stars that should come to LA at some point in their careers

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses with the trophy and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings after winning in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 13: Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses with the trophy and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings after winning in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend 2016 at Air Canada Centre on February 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Karl-Anthony Towns (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 08: Karl-Anthony Towns (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

C Karl-Anthony Towns (Age 21)

Much like the two prior two men on this list, Karl-Anthony Towns is already one of the best players at his position in the entire league and he is barely old enough to hit a slot machine in Las Vegas. Towns turns 22 this November, and only in his third season, has already become one of the best centers in the entire NBA.

Not just one of the best young centers in the NBA, one of the best centers, period. The Washington Post ranked Towns as the tenth best player in the league – and best center – while Bleacher Report ranked Towns as the 19th best NBA player and the third best center.

This kind of praise was definitely earned by Towns. Towns put together an unheard of dominant rookie season in which he won the Rookie of the Year award. In his first year, Towns averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Last season, he followed up strong with 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

Towns now finds himself on a title contending team in Minnesota. The Timberwolves brought in Jimmy Butler, Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson to start alongside the two young stars in Towns and Wiggins. However, their inexperience still may render them unable to slay the Warriors.

It is going to be a long time until Towns can even become a Laker as well. Towns will first hit the free agency market as a restricted free agent in 2019. However, the Timberwolves can match any offer that is thrown Towns way, so it may be until 2022 or 2023 that Towns has a chance to be a Laker.

Still, at that time, he will only be 26 or 27 years old.

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