Lakers rumors: The chances of trading each player on the roster

February 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball agaist the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 28, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball agaist the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) holds on to a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Raptors won 123-114. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) holds on to a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Raptors won 123-114. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Ingram

All indications point to the team building around soon-to-be second year phenom Brandon Ingra. Nothing was exactly special about his first season in the league, but the potential is there and ready to explode.

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It also seems that Los Angeles is more determined to keep Ingram around than anybody else. Not just out of the young core, but on their roster in general.

And that’s a good thing.

Deservedly so, Ingram has been given the benefit of the doubt since he’s still getting his feet wet in the association. For him to be a better all around player, he’ll need to work on his assists.

He averaged 9.4 points and four rebounds per game, but just over two assists per game. Obviously, the front office and the fans like what they’ve seen from Ingram, as they believed in him enough not to let him go at the midway point of the season.

Rumor had it that a trade involving both Ingram and D’Angelo Russell could’ve sent DeMarcus Cousins to Los Angeles. While there wasn’t hesitation with regard to involving Russell, the Lakers weren’t ready to throw their hat in the ring on their other second overall pick.

Plus, Cousins isn’t all that and isn’t the right center for them in the long term — so you could say that they dodged two bullets. At the end of the day, he should be their franchise cornerstone no matter what happens to the other young players.

It just makes sense.

Chance of being traded: 1%