Los Angeles Lakers: Which young core member has the highest ceiling?

Which player has the highest ceiling?

Kyle Kuzma’s shown that he’s an explosive scorer who has a lightning quick release on his outside shot. Unfortunately, last season Kuz’s 3-point stroke regressed from his freshman year.

The most recent news reports state that Kuzma’s been working with a new shooting coach, “Lethal Shooter,” this summer which should help him regain his long distance form. However, even if Kuz becomes an average 3-point shooter in the NBA, he still lacks the ability to manufacture his own shot when things break down on offense, which severely lowers his ceiling.

Kyle Kuzma tried much harder on defense last season and as he continues mature and learns how to play solid team defense he should become a decent defender. With that said, Kyle doesn’t have the size or length to become a lock-down defender.

Kuz’s flaws on offense and defense make his ceiling, that of a complementary scorer, who can be slotted in next to a superstar and thrive.

Lonzo Ball doesn’t have the offensive skill set needed to become an All-Star in today’s NBA. He has a career average of 10 points per game and he’d have to double that number just to get All-Star consideration.

Lonzo Ball may not be a future All-Star, but he can still have a successful career. In fact, his defense and passing are extremely valuable and it’s easy to picture Lonzo as the starting point guard on a championship team.

Brandon Ingram will never be the defensive wolverine that Lonzo Ball is because he doesn’t get enough rebounds or steals. He’ll also never be as explosive as Kyle Kuzma, but “Slenderman” has the highest ceiling out of the Lakers young core.

Brandon Ingram has displayed through his three seasons in the NBA that he has the length and talent to become one of the best two-way players in the league.

Ingram’s was only 21 years old last season, but he already has shown that he has the ability to get his own shot anytime he wants, which is one of the clearest signs that he’s a potential superstar.

Furthermore, he doesn’t create havoc like Lonzo Ball on the less glamorous side of the ball, but last year he started to flash the ability to become a lock-down defender.

Brandon Ingram’s still exceptionally young and he has a long way to go before he becomes a superstar like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, or Paul George, but the framework is there.