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Los Angeles Lakers: How the young talent fits with LeBron James

By Jacob Doole

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 121-112. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers listens to LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Quicken Loans Arena on December 14, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 121-112. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Ingram

Ingram made huge strides across the board in his sophomore season, and his versatility could make him a valuable asset to the new-age Lakers.

He became a legitimate 3-point threat last season, as he bumped his shooting up to 39.0 percent from deep. That’s higher than all but four of LeBron’s Cleveland teammates last season, and below only one (Kevin Love) that played more than 25 minutes per game.

At 6-foot-9 and with long arms, he is able to shoot over the top of defenders as they close out on him. This makes him a constant threat on the perimeter, and would be extremely useful alongside LeBron.

For defenders, near enough isn’t good enough – they need to be inside his jersey to stop him from firing.

Playing with LeBron will surely only help Ingram’s shooting to develop even further. It’s safe to say that, with his first All-Star teammate of his career on the court, Ingram will see more wide-open shots than ever before.

The other major area of development last season was his playmaking. When Ball missed time with injury,  Ingram was thrust into the role of point forward.

He showcased a natural feel in the pick-and-roll, and averaged 4.8 assists over a 13-game stretch without Ball in the lineup.

The biggest issue with last season’s Cavalier was their lack of playmakers. Too often, James was tasked with creating for himself and his teammates every single possession. A starting lineup with James, Ball and Ingram would have no such issues.

Ingram’s combination of size and agility  mean he can fit around those two and any other players the Lakers acquire, as he can play any position from 1-4.

On defense, having Ingram and James at the forward spots is almost the perfect pairing in today’s NBA. They are both capable of guarding players in the post and on the perimeter, meaning they can switch at will if put in the pick-and-roll.

Ingram’s length and mobility give him immense defensive potential, and while he may not have fully reached it yet, a LeBron-led roster with more veterans would finally give him a good defensive environment.

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