Lakers coach Luke Walton believes rookie Brandon Ingram could morph into an all-around force like the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register reports. “That’s what we want Brandon to be,” Walton told Oram and other reporters. “We don’t want him to be just a scorer or just a playmaker. We want him to be one of those guys that literally, by being on the court, ends up with blocks, steals, rebounds, points and assists. Just being all over the floor. That’s our vision for what he’s going to be.” Ingram, who recently moved into the starting lineup at small forward, has doubts that he’d thrive in the role as a point guard or point forward on a regular basis. “That’s something I dealt with in high school, but it’s of course not my natural position,” Ingram said. “I think for me being in the starting lineup and me being in my natural position has been good for me.”
In other developments regarding the Lakers:
- Guard Lou Williams leads the Lakers in scoring despite coming off the bench, but it’s Williams’ dedication to other aspects of his game that pleases Walton, as he told the assembled media. Williams is averaging 18.3 PPG and 3.1 APG and the latter stat holds significance to Walton. “When I took over this team, obviously Lou’s a great scorer,” Walton said. “He’s been a great scorer since he’s been in this league. Our biggest thing with him is we wanted him to playmake and we wanted him to defend, because we knew what he’s capable of doing scoring the ball. We know that teams are going to try to take him out of that, whether it’s blitzing or double teaming or whatever it is. With him it’s always a fine line when we want him to come off those (screens) shooting and when we want him to come off as a playmaker and let that double team facilitate the rest of the possession. He’s done a good job of embracing that.”
- Clippers forward Blake Griffin has taken over the role as primary playmaker with Chris Paul sidelined by a left thumb injury, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. Griffin had five assists in a victory over the Knicks on Wednesday. “I don’t think it’s really about getting the ball more,” Griffin told Turner. “I think it’s just about trusting the offense. I’m figuring out different ways we can score while CP is still out, figuring out how to better serve the offense, whether that’s with the ball or without the ball.” In seven games since returning to the lineup after knee surgery, Griffin has averaged 24.7 PPG, 8.4RPG and 4.9 APG.
- The Clippers need to make a bold move and should explore deals involving Griffin, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer opines. The Clippers require another long-range shooter and a defensive stopper, according to O’Connor, and they should try to swap Griffin for a player that fills those needs.
When I think “long-range shooter and a defensive stopper,” the first player I think of is Carmelo Anthony.
defense and melo Hahahaha
I agree…hahahahahha, melo and defense shouldnt even be in the same sentence…..but im a knicks fan, so make that trade…hes also a long ranger shooter, a short range shooter, an all the time shooter. No bueno……trade Melo,thomas to okc for sabonis, roberson.
Doesn’t even come close to matching salaries. Knicks would probably have to take back Kanter and Singler (or substitute Roberson for Oladipo, which might actually interest the Knicks more, but the Knicks might have to throw in some young player and the Thunder might not want to move Oladipo).
It’s going to be hilarious when CP3 and Blake Griffin (and JJ Redick I think) leave the Clippers high and dry this summer. They’ll walk and the Clippers get nothing in return. As Magic Johnson said a year or two ago when they lost in the second round and everybody thought they were loaded with Talent, “They’re still the Clippers.”
Lol yeah that’s right, they are still the Clippers! They probably won’t get any farther unless they get someone like Melo.
If you were even minimally informed, you’d know that Blake and CP3 both intend to re-sign. They can get the most money from the Clippers, Los Angeles is where they want to be, and Ballmer will pay them both the max. There is nothing either of them could do feasibly in the NBA, under the CBA, that puts them closer to a championship than where they are now. Laker fans whose disappointment with their team has turned toxic, spend a lot more time dreaming up “trade Blake” scenarios than Clipper fans do. That should tell you something.
clippers have fans????? I think you’re mistaken
you a laker fan dretorade?
DeAndre Jordan intended to resign last year also then he skipped town to Dallas and they had to kidnap him to get them to come back to the Clippers. You heard it here first they will both skip town trust me. CP3 is done in La after 6 years and hasn’t even made it to the Conference Finals. Blake Griffin same thing. He is gone. I don’t care what they say publicly. All players say that publicly…. “Oh I love it here I want to stay.” They’re gone. The Clippers will always be the Clippers. And by the way what is Doc Rivers ever done… he was terrible in Orland, he was given a gift in Boston and could only win one championship. And he’s been terrible in LA. Second round of the playoffs, please. You’ve got a super team.
CP3 didn’t even make it far in the playoffs with New Orleans, and no team (with cap space to offer a future max contract) is closer to competing than the Clippers.
I could see Blake leaving, but he would get exposed if he’s the number 1 option and if he’s not on a team filled with shooters.
The people at Bill Simmons’ site wake up every morning and come up with scenarios where the Clippers commit ritual suicide by trading Blake Griffin. “Oh, yeah, it’ll IMPROVE the Clippers,” they say, with an air of faux sagacity.
Doc is not that dumb.
so true. All these people who think blake should be traded for melo (even though he isn’t allowed to be) are 100% out of their minds
They can do the same thing everyone else is doing… the 1+1 just with a new team, and then max out.
Exactly !!
This can all be explained with three words:
“They’re the Clippers.”
yeah cause that sure explains it. Keep making fun of the clippers, cause you have no chance of hurting any clippers fan. “They’re the clippers” is one of the dumbest things i’ve heard