Los Angeles Lakers: Ranking franchise’s most valuable building blocks
1. Brandon Ingram
I’ll admit it — I was extremely skeptical of Brandon Ingram’s worthiness of the “untouchable” designation he received this past offseason. However, based on what we’ve seen through the early part of the 2017-18 campaign, the future is blindingly bright for the 2016 No. 2 overall pick.
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Although he’s not leading the team in scoring, Ingram has been the team’s go-to offensive threat this season. When they need a big bucket to turn the tide, the former Duke star uses his length, athleticism and instincts to put points on the board. It’s still a work in progress, but Ingram has shown rapid improvement during the first month of the season.
What I like about Ingram is that he’s more of the whole package than Ball. Not only can he score at will, but he’s an outstanding rebounder and plus defender who often wins with effort and awareness. His game has its flaws as well, but I think there are less gaps overall.
More importantly, I think he has more untapped potential in the most important aspect of basketball — scoring. Ingram simply has a natural feel for putting the ball in the hoop. Whether he’s driving to the rim or sinking a mid-range dagger, the 20-year-old forward shows an uncanny ability to score.
I know it’s only one piece of the puzzle, but that’s the skill that makes stars. Despite his ridiculous defense, you don’t hear Patrick Beverely being talked about as a superstar.
Next: 2017-18 Week 5 NBA Power Rankings
The sky truly is the limit for Ingram, who many believe could develop into a Kevin Durant-type of talent in due time. I don’t know if that’s what the future holds for him, but the Lakers will be very happy with their investment if he comes anywhere close to the 2013-14 MVP.