Lakers Podcast: Should Brandon Ingram Be Signed To A Contract Extension This Summer? Plus, Draft Lottery Odds & More

Trevor Lane
2 Min Read
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The season hasn’t gone the way that the Los Angeles Lakers had hoped it would, and for the sixth straight year, they will find themselves on the outside looking in at the NBA Playoffs. It’s unfamiliar territory for a franchise that is used to competing for championships, especially when they have a superstar on the roster the caliber of LeBron James.

However, one bright spot had been the play of Brandon Ingram, who took his game to an entirely new level prior to undergoing surgery to deal with a blood clot. When the calendar turned to 2019, Ingram began to look like the second star the team have been hoping to place alongside James.

On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, host Trevor Lane is joined by Yahoo Sports salary cap expert Keith Smith to discuss the pros and cons of offering Ingram a contract extension while he is still recovering from surgery.

Depending on the dollar amount, the risk could be high, but if Ingram gets back to the level he was at prior to his blood clot, he’s going to be one of the most sought-after young players in the league.

Additionally, the playoff and tank races are discussed, with a look at whether or not the league’s new draft lottery weighting did anything to prevent the practice of teams that found themselves outside of the playoff picture giving fainted attempts to win games.

Plus, what can the Lakers learn from the success that Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell have had elsewhere? And why does Kobe Bryant think it’s a good idea to trade Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma for Anthony Davis?

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com