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2016 NBA Draft: Brandon Ingram Player Breakdown

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Brandon Ingram (14) before the game at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches from the sideline as they take on the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 111-103. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens watches from the sideline as they take on the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 111-103. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Ideal Fits

The most ideal fits for Brandon Ingram are whichever teams crack the Top 3—literally, any of them. The Top 5 selections based on lottery odds belong to the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minnesota has a tantalizing collection of talent, but it’s the other four teams that would best enable Ingram to become an individual star.

The 76ers, which own the best lottery odds, are in dire need of a perimeter player who can create their own offense and space the floor. Some combination of Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, and Dario Saric will anchor the future down low, but Philadelphia needs perimeter aid.

Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) and guard D’Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) and guard D’Angelo Russell (1) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Lakers 119-107. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a similar position with a point guard and power forward to anchor the future in D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, but lack a go-to scoring option—something Ingram can be.

The most intriguing options are the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns. Boston is flush with quality veterans and a brilliant head coach in Brad Stevens, and Phoenix has the point guard and shooting guard play to surround Ingram with the perfect complementary forces.

All of those teams would be tremendous fits, but one can’t help but be intrigued by his potential as a premier defender and complementary scorer in Minnesota.

More hoops habit: A full two-round breakdown of the 2016 NBA Draft

Regardless of which team lands Ingram, one thing is clear: he has the potential to be transcendent.

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