NBA Draft: Lakers select Brandon Ingram at No. 2 to add star power back in L.A.
He fits in with everything they need on the wing
By
Zach Harper
•
2 min read
The post-Kobe Bryant existence for the Los Angeles Lakers is clouded in mystery, but it wasn't much of a mystery that once Ben Simmons was off the board to Philadelphia at No. 1, Brandon Ingram out of Duke would go to the Lakers at the second selection. Ingram fills a huge need at both the small forward position and in the areas of the offense the Lakers will need him to contribute in right away. The Lakers' dynasties have been built on star power, and while D'Angelo Russell certainly has the raw skill set to become one of those in this age of perimeter dominance, a player of Ingram's physical and basketball attributes has a greater chance to make that leap.
The starting point with Ingram is his height and wingspan. He's 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and the handle of a shooting guard. He's been compared to Kevin Durant because of his build, dribbling ability, and scoring touch, but that's an unfair comparison to leap on such a young player. He may not become an All-NBA player, but he has the very real possibility to become a perennial All-Star and a top 2 option on the Lakers.
His biggest asset in his game is his shooting ability. The Lakers were the worst team in the NBA in 3-point percentage this season. Part of that is a lack of talent. Part of that is Byron Scott's offensive schemes and beliefs. But with Luke Walton taking over and hoping to implement some of the offensive tenets he learned from his time with the Golden State Warriors, he'll want to make sure the 3-point line is a very real part of his offense. Ingram provides that scoring punch from beyond the arc.
Ingram shot 41 percent from 3-point range on over five attempts per game for Duke. He shot 44.7 percent on spot-up jumpers. He was also a good scorer in isolation because of his ability to free up for a shot and get to wherever he wanted on the floor. You couldn't just collapse on him because he had quality teammates (that may take a bit on the Lakers) and he's a very good distributor off of drives and pick-and-roll situations.
The Lakers are desperate for help on the wing to complement or even lead Russell and Julius Randle. If they can re-sign Jordan Clarkson, that's a lot of offensive firepower and distributing abilities from 1-4. The Lakers will still have plenty of holes to fill, but you can't pass on a wing like this who can make the defense hesitate on where they try to take away spots on the floor for your offense.
Mitch Kupchak needs to get stars for his team. Maybe that will come in free agency or a trade down the road. But as of right now, it's coming from the second pick in the draft. Ingram needs to get stronger. He can't remain this slight of build for many years. As his body fills out, so will his impact on the court. The Lakers didn't get cute with their selection. They just took the best option for them. Walton will be thrilled to utilize him moving forward.
