The Los Angeles Lakers have deemed Brandon Ingram an “untouchable” player this offseason. His two-way ability and upside are the main reasons why.
The Los Angeles Lakers are making a move forward with their offseason plans. Adding former Arizona guard Miles Simon as an assistant coach, making several draft workouts and now, making players untouchable on the roster.
This past week, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson announced that forward Brandon Ingram was considered “untouchable” to him, making him the only player on the roster with that distinction. Despite his No. 2 overall pick status, it was interesting to see Ingram receive that endorsement from Magic.
While the Lakers suffered another losing season, Ingram’s season was less than stellar. He finished with a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 8.7, finished with a True Shooting Percentage under 50 percent and produced -0.3 win shares. Even his per 36 minutes numbers — 11.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists — seemed lackluster.
However, it’s the combination of age, upside and two-way ability that makes Brandon Ingram an untouchable and an ideal piece to work with moving forward.
As the league went from post players mattering to the evolution of small-ball, talented wing players became more and more valuable. The ability to shuffle between several wing players who can provide several different skills like creating for others, defending several positions and spacing the floor is paramount. You get one who can do all three and we’re talking about a top-20 player in the league.
Despite a down season, there’s hope that Ingram could do a bit of all three. Coming out of Duke, Ingram shot 41 percent from three. He struggled this past season — 29 percent as a rookie — but Los Angeles is hoping that he can bounce back and evolve into a knockdown shooter. He struggled a defender due to his meager frame, but also flashed potential on D with solid block and steal percentages.
As a passer, he shined. Ingram averaged 2.1 assists per game with an assist ratio of 15 percent, flashing the ability to create in the pick and roll. All of those skills coming together makes an interesting player, one that would be ideal alongside potential star players.
Blue Man Hoop
Whatever Los Angeles decides to do this offseason, Ingram makes sense as someone who could benefit.
If Los Angeles were to draft Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick, placing Ingram alongside two dynamic ball-handlers and creators – Ball and D’Angelo Russell – would benefit Ingram as his shots will be created more. Ditto for Kentucky’s DeAaron Fox assuming the lead guard role.
Or, they go against the grain and select Kansas forward Josh Jackson.
Jackson’s arrival would give Ingram a partner in the frontcourt who can absorb most of the power forward position minutes and form a duo of two dynamic forwards. Shooting would be a bit of a question, though, as Ingram struggled as a rookie and Jackson shot even worse as a freshman.
Maybe Los Angeles pushes some of the pieces into the middle of the table and a trade for Paul George becomes the priority. Ingram once again gets the pressure removed from him as George assumes the role of the franchise player and the team’s No. 1 scorer. It allows Ingram to assume a secondary or tertiary role as he comes into his own as a 20-year-old forward in his second season.
Brandon Ingram as an untouchable for Los Angeles is a peculiar position for the front office because you can make the argument that Los Angeles should, at the very least, consider him as a piece to sell high on after an underwhelming rookie season.
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However, when you consider the array of skills he showed in spurts and upside, Ingram has the chance to be a special player and an ideal running mate alongside Paul George and whoever Los Angeles decides to express interest in over the next two offseasons.