NBA
#2 Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
With the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Duke small forward Brandon Ingram.
Ingram is a talented shooter and scorer, who also fits a big need on the Lakers’ young roster.
The 6’9 freshman averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a game for the Blue Devils. He shot 44.2 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the arc.
The Lakers have significant spending power this summer, perhaps $60 million to go after veterans in free agency.
It’s unclear just who the Lakers will land, but the team has a promising core of developing players in D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson (restricted free agent), Larry Nance Jr. and now Ingram.
The knock on Ingram is his thin frame, weighing just 190 pounds. He has great height and length for his position, giving up great potential as a defender, but it may take some time for his body to fill out.
“I’m only 18, of course the weight is going to come naturally. I have inner strength,” said the 18-year-old Ingram on the draft broadcast.
The Lakers need the help, as they won just 17 games last season.
They’ve since turned the page on former coach Byron Scott, hiring Luke Walton in his stead. The Lakers also have the 32nd overall pick.
