Los Angeles Lakers: Sooner or later, Brandon Ingram won’t be in the picture anymore
By Keith Rivas
The future of LA is between Ball & Kuzma, not Ingram
While Brandon Ingram can definitely be a game changer, he’s far from the most valuable player in Los Angeles. That, instead, is between the two rookie sensations they have in Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.
It’s deeper than just what their respective potentials are, as it also is dependent on the emphasis of chemistry for the long-term. They may not say the same things or act the same way off the court, but Kuzma and Ball can absolutely be the next two-star tandem to take over the NBA without needing Ingram to make it happen.
You could argue, yes, that Ingram would improve it or maybe get them to an elite level a year earlier as a team, but if it’s just Ball and Kuzma, the spotlight can be more centered on them and not so spread out.
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If this point were to be emphasized between teams in talks with LA for Ingram, though, it might make the superstar the front office wants to no longer desire to be with the purple in gold — particularly Paul George.
Why would a superstar in the NBA who is partly face of a franchise outside of the Lakers want to join where they’d be third-wheeling things to two guys in their early 20’s?
Nobody within range of the title of superstar, I can tell you that much.
LeBron James is having enough difficulties in Cleveland with the team in such a disarray despite him being in charge. If you want to factor him into this part of the scenario, there’s no way he takes a backseat to Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma on top of dealing with LaVar Ball.
This point, instead, can be taken by the Lakers front office as good enough reason to trade him to get the focus on guys that the focus needs to be on. They can’t afford to mess this up anymore than it already has been, especially if the plan is to make the Lakers great again.