It feels like forever ago when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Brandon Ingram with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft — probably because it has been. As much hype as there was about the forward's arrival in Hollywood, he lasted three years before LA sent him to New Orleans in the Anthony Davis trade. We all know who won that deal, thanks to the 2020 championship, but Ingram is still doing his old team a favor by making them look even better.
In his first full season in Toronto, the Raptors secured their first playoff berth in four years, setting up for a clash with the Cavaliers. Unfortunately, for Ingram, his team was on the wrong end of Game 1, as Cleveland cruised to a 126-113 win.
Ingram finished with 17 points on 5-of-9 shots from the field, but he did take a team-high 10 free throws (he made seven). Still, taking just nine shots in a playoff game is unacceptable. What's even worse than that is he had only four points in the second half, and they all came off free throws.
That's not what you need from a player who is supposed to be one of your top options.
Brandon Ingram's Raptors playoff debut was rough
Toronto swooped in out of nowhere before the 2025 deadline and acquired Ingram, turning what looked like a rebuild on its head. The Raptors signed him to a three-year, $120 million extension right after the trade, banking on him being a premier scorer for them (and not getting hurt in the process). Luckily for them, he played 77 regular-season games in 2025-26.
Not so luckily for them, he put on a disappearing act in his first postseason action with Toronto. He has to get more involved on offense in Game 2, or this could be a series that results in a sweep.
Lakers trading Ingram benefitted them more than they could've dreamed
Not only did Los Angeles get Davis and win it all the following year, but the Lakers used AD to get Luka Dončić in 2025. That 2019 trade is quite literally the gift that keeps on giving for Los Angeles, as it could lead to at least another championship. More than one is preferred, of course.
Lakers fans had no idea what was coming in 2016 when the team selected Ingram. He did help lead them to a title, just not in the way that Los Angeles thought.
Now, let's hope that he can get something going with the Raptors to make that series more exciting, as rooting for good playoff basketball is fun.
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