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Lakers rumors: Five players LA should grab to build around Brandon Ingram

By Keith Rivas

Nov 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) looses control of the ball against Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (14) looses control of the ball against Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) in the first quarter of their game at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) reacts during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) reacts during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

D’Angelo Russell

The only thing they’ll have to do with Russell is give him whatever extension he deserves when the time comes. Renewing his deal while also refusing to trade him before then would give Ingram enough room to be comfortable scoring.

Russell can score off the ball better than anything, so a move to shooting guard is the only requirement for him on this list. If that happens, Russell’s game will come out in ways we haven’t seen just yet.

Not only in scoring, but passing, rebounding, and all around.

Russell averaged 15.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds last year — a step above others from his draft class.

He is a work in progress, to say the least, but the direction he’s going is definitely up. They didn’t draft him second overall for nothing either, and it’d be foolish for them to part ways with him already.

Another important piece that Russell brings to the table is that it doesn’t put all the weight on Brandon Ingram to score. Chances are that they’ll have a rookie running the point next season, so scoring is going to have to come through the other means.

If Russell doesn’t pan out after this season, or God forbid gets worse, then the Lakers will know what to do. But as of right this moment, he deserves to be one of the building blocks.

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