Lakers News: Magic Johnson Says Team Will Probably Build Around Brandon Ingram

Corey Hansford
2 Min Read


Over the last couple of years, the Los Angeles Lakers have begun stocking their roster with a number of young, talented players. D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and others have shown flashes of potential, but arguably none have shown more than last year’s second overall pick, Brandon Ingram.

Even though he had an up-and-down rookie season, Ingram really turned it on down the stretch of the season. He scored in double figures in 18 of his 21 games played after the All-Star break, raised his scoring from 8.0 PPG before the break to 13.2 after, and raised his shooting percentage from 36.3 to 47.5.

Coming into this offseason, there have been a lot of questions about the potential moves the Lakers may make. President of basketball operations Magic Johnson appeared on Sirius XM NBA Radio ahead of the NBA Draft Lottery and seemed to indicate that Ingram is someone the Lakers plan to build around:

Obviously, a lot of things can change over time, and tonight’s draft lottery will certainly play a role in that, but it is interesting to see Magic come out and back Ingram as essentially a franchise player.

The Lakers have been mentioned in a number of rumors, particularly in regards to Indiana’s Paul George. In trying to acquire George, the Lakers would have to give up a lot, and it is likely that the Pacers would ask for Ingram in addition to other pieces. Whether Magic’s words here indicate that he wouldn’t part with Ingram in such a deal remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, it seems as if Magic and the Lakers front office sees Ingram as a key piece moving forward as they try to bring the Lakers back to the top of the league.

Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
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