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Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram is player to watch in second half

By Tadi Abedje

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 23, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 23, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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As we head into the second half of the season, Brandon Ingram is the player to watch for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming out of the All-Star weekend with a 23-34 record, which is 11th place in the loaded Western Conference. They had lost their final three games heading into the All-Star break after previously winning 12 of 15 contests.

The team also made a huge blockbuster reshuffling of the roster at the trade deadline. They traded Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the Cavs’ 2018 first round pick. Their goal was to clear up salary cap space so that they can go after big name free agents in the summer of 2018 and 2019.

Additionally, they wanted to reduce the logjam they had in the power forward position and give more minutes to Julius Randle and Kyle Kuzma. Los Angeles is unlikely to make the postseason this year as they’re focusing on the young players’ development.

That means that veterans like Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Corey Brewer could have their playing time decreased in order for the organization to see what they have in their youth.

With that being said, there is one player to watch out for in the final stretch of the year.

Brandon Ingram

The second year lanky small forward out of Duke is having a much better year than his rookie year. He is averaging a team-leading 16.2 points on 46.2%, 38 percent from three and 68% from the free throw line. Recently, he had started at point guard and carried a bigger load with Lonzo Ball being out with an injury.

Here are some of his top performances of the season.

Next: Ranking the 30 greatest scorers in Lakers history

Magic Johnson had a goal for Ingram to average 20 points a game because he has a high ceiling as a 20-year-old. For him to reach that goal, he has to continue to make perimeter shots and free throws on a consistent basis for the rest of the season. If he can do that, he could the leader that can lead them back to championship glory.

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