Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 5 takeaways from 2017 NBA Summer League

By Josh Cornelissen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Kyle Kuzma #0 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers walk off the court after the team's 115-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up the court against the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Clippers won 96-93 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up the court against the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2017 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Clippers won 96-93 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Brandon Ingram put doubts to rest

With first overall pick Ben Simmons sidelined for the year, Brandon Ingram was supposed to lead the draft class in production as the No. 2 pick. Instead, he turned in a year of inconsistency, shooting just 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. With a slight frame and dysfunction happening all around him, his future seemed suspect.

Fast forward to July and those doubts are all but put to rest. The organization has stabilized around Ingram, with a coordinated vision under team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka. Ingram played just one game in Las Vegas, but it was a great one.

Brandon Ingram looked like a player on another level, dropping 26 points on 52.9 percent shooting in just 32 minutes. His thin frame was stronger, his touch softer, and his intelligence on the court raised to another level. Offensively, he was scoring from all around the court.

Ingram was locked in defensively as well, racking up three steals and two blocks in that game. With Lonzo Ball running the point, it is imperative that the Lakers’ wing players turn in above-average defense, and Ingram will be called upon from day one to play at a high level defensively.

There is still a lot of growth in store for Ingram, from adding strength and muscle to his slight frame to shoring up a shot that is still shaky. But if his game in Vegas is any indication, Ingram is on the track to stardom, not the garbage heap.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers