Los Angeles Lakers Plan To Bring Brandon Ingram Off Bench?

The Los Angeles Lakers will bring No. 2 overall pick Brandon Ingram along slowly, as he may come off the bench to begin his career.

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new era. Gone is the longtime face of the franchise Kobe Bryant, as the Lakers turn the page on that chapter and look to begin a new one.

There is a new voice on the sidelines, as Luke Walton was hired as the head coach this season. The Lakers have built a young core with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. and Julius Randle that they hope can bring the franchise back to its glory days.

The most recent young piece to be added to that puzzle is Brandon Ingram. The Lakers selected Ingram with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Duke. There are expectations that come with being the second overall pick, as you are seen as a potential franchise cornerstone.

When you are selected that high, you are supposed to have an immediate impact on the court. Ingram has some goals for himself as well, as he hopes that he can bring home the Rookie of the Year award.

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The Lakers are hoping that Ingram can have an impact, but it will not be from where you expect. Many No. 2 overall picks, no matter the sport, are relied upon right away. They are thrust into the starting lineup and the team hopes that they can handle the pressure. That will not be the case with the Lakers and Ingram, as he may begin his career coming off the bench with the second unit.

The Lakers are taking a long-term approach with Ingram, as they want to help him adjust to the NBA life after spending only one season at Duke. It is only natural for a 19-year-old to wear down, so the Lakers are hoping that he can adapt to the rigors of an 82-game season off the bench at first.

"“I think it’s going to be a long season on a young player that has to be stronger, has to get stronger, has to show that he can play for 82 games,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Tuesday as the team opened training camp at the University of California at Santa Barbara.“I don’t anticipate that [Ingram] would start. It’s not something that I think has to happen, even though he’s the No. 2 pick.”"

Kupchak mentions that Ingram needs to get stronger, and he is 100 percent right. Ingram stands 6’9″ but needs to add some meat to those bones, as he currently weighs only 190 pounds. To put that into perspective, take a look at the Lakers’ roster.

There are four point guards, Russell, Clarkson, Marcelo Huertas and Jose Calderon, on the roster. All stand between 4-6 inches shorter than Ingram, but all outweigh him by 4-10 pounds. While it is not necessarily all about weight gain, Ingram knows that he needs to add some size to his frame to reach his potential.

"“I’m just trying to get stronger — not a lot about weight — [but] just trying to get stronger each and every day,” Ingram said. “Of course it takes a lot of patience. Of course, I have to wait for my body to mature. I’m only 19. But I’m doing whatever I can to help.”"

It is nice to see that Ingram understands that he will not be given anything. He will have to work hard to earn a role with the Lakers, and has a positive attitude going forward. Ingram also understands the decision about him coming off the bench and will use it as fuel to get to the level he knows he is capable of reaching.

"“That drives me,” Ingram said during the team’s Media Day on Monday about coming off the bench. “If it was given, it wouldn’t drive me as much to be the best player that I can be. Just coming off the bench and showing that I can be one of the best players on the floor, I think it just gives me motivation to work hard each and every day.”"

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Ingram seems like a young player that has his head on straight. Too often these players that are high-level recruits want to have everything handed to them. Those are the players that will not last in this league. Ingram knows he will have to work to get better, and is willing to do what it takes.

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