Recent Lakers rumors have been about the NBA Draft. However, there have been rumblings about Brandon Ingram. Is he available to be traded for?
There have been plenty of Lakers rumors with the NBA Draft less than a week away. In recent weeks, there has been plenty of speculation about what the Los Angeles Lakers will do come June 22nd. In addition to the draft rumors, there have also been some rumblings about Lakers forward, Brandon Ingram.
Ingram was the Lakers’ first-round pick last season and shows a lot of potential. According to Mark Medina, teams have been calling about Ingram, however, the Lakers are saying that he isn’t available. Here’s what Medina had to say about Ingram.
"The Lakers have also fielded trade inquiries in recent weeks that include their No. 2 pick. The Lakers have listened to offers, but they maintain that second-year forward Brandon Ingram is not available. The Lakers like Ingram’s steady growth with his defense, shooting, and aggressiveness as he strives to add more muscle to his wiry frame. Meanwhile, the Lakers have heard from prospects that they would like to play alongside Ingram."
Seeing other teams being interested in Ingram certainly, makes a lot of sense. His unique size and speed make him a very appealing prospect in the NBA. With how the game is changing in recent years, the positionless basketball has become more and more of what teams are striving for. Ingram certainly fits the bill when it comes to this.
In his rookie season, Ingram averaged 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.8 minutes per game. Like most young players, Ingram does need to improve in certain areas. For him, shooting the ball more efficiently will be priority No.1 moving forward. Shooting under 30 percent from beyond the arc is something that can’t happen if Ingram is going to take the next step in his career.
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Ingram still hasn’t turned 20-years-old, as the sky is still the limit for him. For the Lakers, keeping Ingram as part of the young core appears to be the plan unless they are completely blown away by a trade offer.