Brandon Ingram’s days in Los Angeles may be numbered, as a recent report detailed how the Los Angeles Lakers star could be on the move in order to acquire either Anthony Davis, C.J. McCollum, or Bradley Beal.
The rumors regarding Ingram’s future in L.A. was reported by Eric Pincus of BleacherReport.com.
“An NBA executive agreed, calling Ingram the ‘1-A in a package for a big-time player [after the season],’ and suggested names like Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards or CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers for Los Angeles,” Pincus wrote. “‘[Josh] Hart or [Kyle] Kuzma would probably need to be the 1-B.’
“The big prize for the Lakers would be Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans. If the All-Star forward/center doesn’t extend his contract, Los Angeles will certainly make a bid for him. Ingram will need to grow as a player in order to have the value necessary to be the centerpiece in a blockbuster deal.”
That being said, it seems a trade is not likely to take place until after the 2018-19 season.
“I think they wait until the summer to look into a big move involving a player like Ingram,” an NBA agent told Pincus. “That gives them more time to get the best deal.”
So far this season, Ingram has averaged 15.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. While those are solid numbers, Ingram has struggled to play his best ball alongside James. It would be sad to see the former second overall draft pick leave Los Angeles, but it would be well worth it if team president Magic Johnson could find a way to pair an established All-Star with James.
That being said, considering the fact that a trade does not seem entirely imminent, Ingram could improve dramatically in terms of playing alongside James between now and the end of the season.
As always, this remains in flux for a Lakers team that has impressed early this season. Still, while their current 18-12 record is solid, it is nothing compared to the lofty goals James and company hold.
Whether or not Ingram is a part of achieving those goals remains to be seen.
