Brandon Ingram: Latest News, Rumors and Buzz on SF's 2016 NBA Draft Stock
Former Duke forward Brandon Ingram is reportedly expected to be selected No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA draft.
Continue for updates.
Lakers Reportedly Poised to Select Ingram
Wednesday, June 22
Chad Ford and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com reported that "barring a last-minute blockbuster trade offer," the Lakers will select Ingram with the second pick in Thursday's draft.
Ford and Shelburne reported that the franchise "spent three hours huddled with new head coach Luke Walton on Tuesday night before signaling to multiple league sources that Ingram would be their choice if the [Philadelphia 76ers] select Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick."
Ingram to Meet with 76ers
Thursday, June 9
Ingram has a private workout and meeting scheduled with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Ingram Comments on Lakers Workouts, Meetings
Thursday, June 9
Ingram had dinner with members from the Lakers' staff on Wednesday and said, "It went great," per Serena Winters of Lakers Nation. Winters also reported Ingram felt his private workout with the team "went great."
When asked what has stood out to Ingram the most about the visit, he said, "The comfortability," per Mike Trudell of the Lakers' official website. "Everyone around here is great people."
Ingram also indicated he is looking to gain 10-15 pounds, per Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders.
Ingram Likely to Be Top-2 Pick in Draft
Ingram averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest for the Blue Devils this past season.
The Philadelphia 76ers own the first overall pick in the draft, which will take place June 23. The Lakers' interest in Ingram hints even more that Philadelphia will make LSU's Ben Simmons the first selection.
Simmons and Ingram are the consensus top two prospects, so Los Angeles can't go wrong.
The Lakers drafted D'Angelo Russell with the second overall pick last year, and his advice to Simmons, a high school teammate of his, might come in handy for Ingram as well.
"He's got a changing-life experience coming up," said Russell, per the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner. "He's got to be prepared for it."
Russell may not have been fully prepared for a rookie year in which he was embroiled in an awkward Snapchat controversy and frequented former head coach Byron Scott's doghouse.
If Russell can grow in his second year and Ingram has an immediate impact, the duo could help L.A. improve from this past season's franchise-worst 17-65 record.
Despite the retirement of legendary guard Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would have a ton of firepower on the perimeter with the addition of Ingram. Between him and Russell, Jordan Clarkson and 2014-15 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, there would be a lot for L.A. fans to be excited about.
Ingram does need to pack on some functional strength to his 6'9 ½", 196-pound frame, but he has a 7'3" wingspan, which gives him huge defensive upside to complement a precocious offensive skill set.
There's little Ingram can't do in terms of creating offense, whether it be shooting from long range (41 percent on 195 three-point attempts in 2015-16) or creating his own shot off the dribble.
Ingram's versatility is what the Lakers should be excited about if they land him in the draft.
Measurements courtesy of DraftExpress.com.
