Los Angeles Lakers: Sooner or later, Brandon Ingram won’t be in the picture anymore

If the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t careful, they’ll either lose the trust and interest of Brandon Ingram or have to trade him to get their desired superstar.

With it looking only more and more likely that a combination of Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle is on its way out of Los Angeles, it’s fair to start begging the question of who is next on the block if a deal does go down with Clarkson and/or Randle before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

The first name that might come to mind is Lonzo Ball, as that has been an intensifying and interesting conversation that has developed thanks to the fact that LaVar Ball has continued to openly criticize the team, including comments on Luke Walton that could’ve divided the young locker room.

But the organization’s front office has shown no interest in exploring trade returns for its rookie point guard, so that only leaves a handful of guys that’d actually get something rewarding or worthwhile in return.

And if you really wanted to make a splash before the deadline or in the summertime, that guy you’d have to start putting on the market would have to be Brandon Ingram.

Sure, that’d be one heck of a jump from being labeled as “untouchable” last year, but that same year has created a world of difference for Los Angeles. It’s given time for Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to fall head over heels for Lonzo Ball despite the off-the-court drama.

Add to that the fact that the two superstars that seem to be at the top of Johnson’s wish list — LeBron James and Paul George — both play the same position of small forward that Ingram currently occupies. It’s not a far reach to think that if Los Angeles acquired one or both of them that it’d cause some chemistry issues.

So what’s next for Brandon Ingram if that conversation starts to take form? Here’s three things to know about what could be in his future and why he’s worth trading if you’re the Lakers.