The Lakers have bounced back from a slow start to insert themselves directly in the middle of the Western Conference playoff picture, with their 18-12 record currently placing them fourth in the conference.
However, while things are mostly running smoothly in Los Angeles, the fit of top prospect Brandon Ingram alongside LeBron James has been the subject of some concern. Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer explored the topic last week, and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report revisited it on Monday, speaking to executives and scouts around the NBA to get their impressions on the pairing.
“I’m still a believer in Ingram,” one video analyst told Pincus. “He’s still learning what he can do on the court. It’s just a little harder to find yourself when you’re playing with LeBron.”
Another executive essentially agreed with that assessment, pointing out that Ingram has had a harder time adjusting to LeBron’s arrival than players like Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart because they move better without the ball than Ingram does.
While Ingram, who is still just 21 years old, may eventually get more comfortable alongside LeBron, it will be interesting to see whether the Lakers have the patience to go through that learning process. The club has thus far been unwilling to include any of its top young prospects – Ingram, Kuzma, Hart, or Lonzo Ball – in trade packages for short-term help, but if a star becomes available, Ingram would be the sort of “1-A” prospect that could headline a package, one executive suggested to Pincus.
“The Lakers are in win-now mode,” an NBA player agent told Pincus. “Everything is on the table to appease LeBron. They’re going to make moves to bring in vets who fit around [James]. … I think they wait until the summer to look into a big move involving a player like Ingram. That gives them more time to get the best deal.”
The Lakers could ultimately use their cap room to add a second star in free agency in 2019, and may not need to use Ingram or their other youngsters as trade chips. However, if L.A. strikes out on the open market or wants to acquire a third star, Ingram is positioned to become a prime trade candidate.
What do you think? Does Ingram have a long-term future in Los Angeles? If so, will he and LeBron eventually develop into a complementary duo? Or do you envision the Lakers trading Ingram within the next year or two?
Honestly who is actually available to be traded that could be a sidekick or whatever to LeBron? Draymond? Kemba? Blake? Wall? Don’t really see anyone major going anywhere anytime soon.
Brad Beal.
Good one
Why would the Lakers want green when they have kuz? I don’t see MJ trading his golden boy any time soon, Beal or wall would be the best choice if they are available.
I only said Draymond due to the drama with KD and need for a new contract
Kemba a free agent after thr season. The can have kemba score and lonzo lock down whoever.
Terrible combo
How? Lonzo can switch and focus on defense and kemba can just straight score. So far lonzo is a lock down defender.
Totally Mindless…The only thing Lonzo can lock down is a bag of Burger King!
Your hate is getting in the way of your judgement…Lonzo is an elite defender, the numbers back it up.
Paladin you obviously dont watch lakers so take your hate and blind ignorance elsewhere.
Kemba has already said he intends to stay in Charlotte. We hear it o the eastern side of the U.S.
Watch them all the time and I see him get blown by all the time. You can’t see the forest thru the trees because you are blinded by Lonzo love. Luke just talked about it after Laker loss to Nets. Lonzo got beat multiple times tonight. Watch the film with open eyes. Elite defender is a joke.
Can’t really judge any of them until they play in the postseason and then you can see who has what it takes. Trade off the weak come this offseason
I think it’s similar to why Rodney Hood & Jae Crowder struggled with LeBron. To me it’s because they play the same position
Exactly some guys have a hard time transitioning to being a small ball 4 when they have spent their entire career at the 3. It’s not the super easy change everyone makes it sound like.
It’s Kuz and LeBron and then a bunch of tradable assets. Think Ingram and a pick or 2 will get dealt for AD at some point.
As much as i am a laker fan and huge supporter of ingram i think you are right his numbers are better without lebron and vise versa. Ingram looks like the odd man out but should he be traded he can and will blossom into a star.
rather trade mebron away for picks and prospects.
Go home, you’re drunk
with him no other star is coming to the team and the lakers are not going to win anything. on top of that, the best prospect is being left out and lebron will want to bring in his preferred oldies. this was absolutely about making money and not necessarily about building championship team.
Man inform yourself, LBJ would have made easily 50-60 million more in Cleveland, if it was about money he would never have come to LA, don’t let your hate blind you, enjoy life & The King while you can
The publicity, and television and advertising is 100% the reason he moved to L.A. He just bought a $23mm mansion.
It’ll take Ingram, Kuzma, Lonzo, Wagner, and Hart to match salaries with Anthony Davis. Magic has been unwilling to include Lonzo, Ingram, and Kuzma in trades up to now. Can’t wait until AD declines his option to see what Magic does. I think AD is like Kyrie, Butler, Kemba, and Kawhi. If he waits until his contract expires, he gets like $80mm more.
Why do you make such long and boring comments?
Why do you read them?
That and if I didn’t give this information, you’d never know it. I know you don’t believe it. That’s your problem.
You may wish to add that your OP statement is only true for NEXT year, after July1.
For information’s sake.
Also at that time, Svi & Bonga can be substituted for Wagner, Hart or Kuzma.
There are other Laker tradables for a Davis trade made this season. However this is less likely, because like every other FA-to-be except Lebron, Davis does not have to announce his future plans before the deadline.
There is a greater issue that’s been posed here, and I think the NBA is on a collision path with itself over it. But BI’s issues are more fundamental and they are his own. LBJ isn’t the reason BI can’t hit FTs, and has no touch away from shallow water. It’s a shame because he’s a more complete player than many younger guy, but today you can’t be as far below baseline as he is in something so basic and still be a star (anywhere). He’s still young, and some of these numbers will improve, but he’s a long way off for a 3rd year guy. When a #2 overall pick falls as far from star level as he projects to, it usually means he’s not with his original team much past his original contract +/- a few years. The worst part for some of his fans is that it has nothing to do with LBJ.
Like Markelle Fultz. Sometimes having a high lottery pick isn’t so great.
Well, it’s a great opportunity to look bad, particularly today with so many teenagers. It’s likely why teams rarely vary too far from the consensus script.
i wish the bulls had the pieces for ingram
Lakers should not be converting any assets until they can be used for AD.
Now, it is possible to trade Ingram for assets that can be used for AD also. But an Ariza is not an example of that.
Ingram has mostly been used at the 2. It was never going to work.
A trade for Joe Harris would be useful. He is a hot shooter, Lebron does not need much backup, and the contracts are similar.