How does Brandon Ingram fit with the Los Angeles Lakers both now and in the future?
What the Los Angeles Lakers really needed out of the 2016 NBA draft was a wing who could shoot and stretch the floor for talented guards D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson as well as emerging power forward Julius Randle.
Not only did the Lakers get a guy who fits that particular role, but their first-round pick Brandon Ingram has plenty of room to grow into a two-way star.
Offensively Ingram is a smooth shooter whose range extends out to the NBA three-point line. At 6’9″ with a high release it’s difficult to block his shot, making him a great option to throw the ball to late in the shot clock.
He showed in college that he’s comfortable shooting both off the catch and the dribble. He likely won’t be asked to operate in a lot of isolation offense out of the gate as he has two guards who can drive and set him up.
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Even though he’s capable of sitting outside the arc and spotting up from deep, Los Angeles and new head coach Luke Walton will likely try to run him off some screens and get him easy looks in the mid-range to get him going while they figure out if he’s a decent enough three-point shooter at this point in his career.
His frame is lanky and he’ll need to add weight as he progresses through the league, but Ingram drove enough in college to suggest he won’t be as bad of an option taking the ball to the basket in the NBA.
He may not end up as a star finisher in his first year, but if he can draw fouls and convert at the free throw line (only 68.2 percent from the line at Duke but will likely improve) that could significantly help his scoring numbers as he properly adjusts to the distance of the professional three-point arc.
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Probably the most underrated part of Ingram’s offensive game is his knack for making the right pass off screens and double teams. He averaged 2.0 assists per game in college, and he could see that number jump a little more as he sees more attention from the defense.
He’s willing to give the ball up and doesn’t take many shots of poor quality, so as he becomes more familiar with his teammates and where they generally are on the floor his assist numbers and overall effectiveness will increase.
Defensively the Lakers needed someone who could defend multiple positions and properly switch off screens. Ingram’s length and lateral quickness will prove very handy in today’s modern NBA as he’s potentially able to guard the 2 through 4 and even some point guards in a pinch.
Ingram improved his defensive awareness as the year went on at Duke, but the only question I have is his intensity and willingness to act as that “dog” in locking down the other team’s best offensive option.
He loves to play the game and competes, but I’m not sure he has the unquestioned mentality to serve as a team’s best defender night after night.
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If Ingram develops his game and becomes more comfortable both as a scorer and distributor off the dribble, then L.A. got its offensive star. Given his potential on defense, Ingram stands to serve as a two-way option for the Lakers in the long-term.