Los Angeles Lakers: Power ranking team’s top 5 players right now
4. Brandon Ingram
It’s been a relatively quiet offseason for Brandon Ingram. He didn’t take part in Summer League, so he’s pretty much been doing his own thing while waiting for the start of training camp.
So why does he find himself here at No. 4? Because of his inclusion in trade discussions for Kawhi Leonard, and the lingering sense that he could be dealt between now and Feb. 7.
According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers offered Ingram and a future first round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard. They obviously didn’t bite. Not long after that, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year was dealt to the Toronto Raptors, ending any speculation that he’d be playing for Los Angeles in 2018-19.
Hot. Lakers players most likely to be traded in 2018-19. light
Being involved in trade talks isn’t a shot at Ingram. If anything, it’s further confirmation that the Lakers view him as an extremely valuable asset — they thought him and a draft pick were enough to swap for a former MVP candidate. While that all may be, his inclusion could put some sort of mental strain on the rising star.
This is more speculation than anything. At the same time, there have been numerous players in the past who have said that being involved in trade rumors hurt their on-court performance. The future looks bright for Ingram (especially with LeBron in town), but he may be questioning his long-term role with the Lakers after being dangled as trade bait.