NBA Draft Rumors: Lakers Taking Brandon Ingram Barring Trade

March 23, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Duke guard Brandon Ingram (14) shoots during practice the day before the semifinals of the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
March 23, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Duke guard Brandon Ingram (14) shoots during practice the day before the semifinals of the West regional of the NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The latest NBA Draft rumors say that the Lakers will be taking Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft barring something wild

From the moment that the Los Angeles Lakers were locked in at the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the assumption has been around the league that they would be taking forward Brandon Ingram out of Duke.

Of course, you can never rule anything out when it comes to the draft, the Lakers, or even the NBA in general. After all, just last year saw the Lakers supposed locked in on Jahlil Okafor coming into the draft and then switching gears to another top prospect in D’Angelo Russell.

However, the Lakers are reportedly locked in for the 2016 NBA Draft. The latest bit of NBA Draft rumors coming from Chad Ford and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN says that the Lakers are all but certainly going to be taking Ingram with the No. 2 pick. 

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Again speaking to the unpredictability of this time of year in the league, there is the caveat included in the report about the Lakers and Ingram that a “blockbuster trade” could potentially shake things up. Considering what we’ve heard to this point about trades in the lottery though, that seems unlikely to happen.

While unsurprising, you have to applaud the Lakers decision-making in this in that they aren’t overthinking or overanalyzing the situation. With Ben Simmons set to go No. 1 to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers need to take a player with great skill and great upside. Ingram is the best available after Simmons in that regard and also happens to fit a position of need in LA.

It’s all a no-brainer.

Next: NBA Draft 2016: Ranking the Top 100 Prospects

Everything in the NBA is always subject to change because that’s the nature of the beast and the fluidity of the league. However, anything other than Adam Silver saying Ingram’s name after the Lakers’ would be a monstrous shock.

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