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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Brandon Ingram should be the first traded

By Jason Reed

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 07, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 07, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers very well could be looking to make a massive trade this summer and the first of the young core to go should be Brandon Ingram.

The Los Angeles Lakers front office is going to be desperately attempting to get a second superstar this summer. The promise of two superstars has surrounded the team for two years now and falling short of that is going to leave a lot of fans upset.

While the current core of Lakers certainly is talented and will get better, they will never be good enough to win a title with what they have. LeBron James is getting older and the young core of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma won’t progress quickly enough to contend alongisde LeBron.

The best-case scenario for the Lakers would be to sign a superstar free agent, that way no parts of the roster have to take a hit. However, the Lakers really are not the front-runners for any of the premier stars, which might force a trade.

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And that is where the discussion of who the team should offer fist begins. In reality, the Lakers are going to have to trade at least two members of the young core. It is worth discussing who should be the first one traded, though.

Just based on the fan reception in the online setting, it appears as if Ingram is the least likely to get traded. Ingram is farther along than Kuzma and Ball and has grown more support with the fan base.

While the logic there is understandable, the logic for Ingram being the first to get traded makes even more sense. Yes, he is most talented of the three right now. It is when you throw other factors into the discussion where it becomes clear.

First and foremost, Ingram’s contract is going to be easier to trade for a high-salary star. Ingram is set to make $7.2 million next season and is going to be a restricted free agent after the team.

The Lakers will lose fewer salary cap space by trading Ingram’s contract over Kuzma’s and there is a chance that if he does not take the proper steps this year, but gets a large contract from another team next summer, that the Los Angeles Lakers do not match the offer.

Ball’s contract is similar in salary but he has an extra season on his deal. Not only is the extra year helpful but Ball’s defense is imperative to this team. The Lakers can find scorers to put alongside LeBron, it is going to be hard to find the kind of defensive play that Ball brings to the table.

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Again, the chances are that if the Los Angeles Lakers make a trade it will include at least two of the three members of the young core. However, if it came down to it, Ingram should be the one to go.

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