Brandon Ingram Update

Magic Johnson is running the LA Lakers now and as you probably know an overhaul is needed and overdue.

During the run-up to the draft, Johnson talked about rebuilding the team and made it clear that the only untouchable guy on the roster was Duke product Brandon Ingram.

Former Lakers strength coach Tim DiFrancesco had high praise for him as well: “Right off the bat, this kid showed me. I put a workout together, that I wanted to be realistic, but also challenging to see how he would handle it, and I don’t think he said three words during the workout, but the amazing part was just in his facial expressions, and his approach to every time I explained an exercise…What I mean is, I’ve had guys that are like, ‘That’s what we’re doing? or No way! And I’m like yeah, that’s just the warmup and they think it’s the whole workout, so there’s moments where you have guys that are new to the weight room and you have an eye roll here or whatever, and this kid (Ingram) was like, ‘What’s next, can we do more?’ This was where the body, the mannerisms, the stuff that I was getting from his body language, was all can we do more? He was really, really impressive to me, all year long. This kid, he’s going to be something really special to work with, because when somebody approaches it like that at 19, the possibilities are endless.”

And now the Lakers are making Ingram the centerpiece of their summer league program.

It makes sense when you look at the roster. Metta World Peace, who probably won’t be back, is 37. Luol Deng, the other Duke one-and-done on the roster, is 32 and on the backside of a fine career.

Corey Brewer, 31, was picked up recently as was Brook Lopez, 29.

None of those guys are long-term answers though Lopez might be around for a while.

Once you get past those guys, the Lakers have Thomas Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr. (whose brother recently committed to Chris Collins’ Northwestern program), David Nwaba, Tyler Ennis, Julius Randle, Kyle Kuzma, Thomas Bryant, rookies Josh Hart, Thomas Bryant, Lonzo Ball and of course Ingram.

It’s a young group and no one is as versatile or useful as is Ingram.