UPDATE 8/23/16 (10:10 AM PT): The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that they have officially signed second overall pick Brandon Ingram via Lakers.com:
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Brandon Ingram, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
For weeks upon weeks many people have been wondering when the Los Angeles Lakers would officially sign second overall pick Brandon Ingram. The delay in inking him made some believe that the team could be looking to deal Ingram in some blockbuster trade.
In actuality, the Lakers were most likely keeping their salary cap room open just in case a favorable deal came available, but that didn’t stop the questions.
Now, all of the questions and speculation can end as Shams Charania of The Vertical reports that the Lakers will sign Ingram on Tuesday:
Wait is over for Brandon Ingram: The Los Angeles Lakers will sign the No. 2 overall pick on Tuesday, sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2016
As the second overall pick, there will be a ton of pressure on Ingram to help bring the Lakers back to the top of the NBA, but the 19-year-old is full of talent. Kobe Bryant recently praised Ingram’s skills and while he struggled some in Summer League, he certainly ended it on a high note, showcasing his vast potential.
The Lakers have been very busy in the last couple of days as they officially signed Yi Jianlian to a deal and there was also a report that the team has signed former Notre Dame forward Zach Auguste to a deal after he played on the Summer League team as well. Ingram was the last first-round pick to sign his contract and the anticipation of that deal was reaching a fever pitch.
Ingram’s size, length, and shooting ability make him one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class. The Lakers are hopeful that Ingram can join forces with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr., and Ivica Zubac to form one of the best young cores in the NBA today.
