Ranking the Los Angeles Lakers Top 5 assets in an Anthony Davis trade

#1) Brandon Ingram

First things first, health is obviously a major concern surrounding this asset. Brandon Ingram was diagnosed with a Deep Venous Thrombosis in his right arm towards the end of the regular season. The severity of this injury is terrifying, it derailed the career of Chris Bosh, forcing him to retire prematurely. Ingram’s injury has been compared to Bosh’s due to the alarming similarities, but according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, Ingram is expected to make a full recovery by the beginning of the 2019/20 season.

Brandon Ingram—just like Lonzo Ball—was playing the best basketball of his young career before going down with injury. In the six games prior to the injury, Ingram put up very impressive numbers of 27.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 7.5 rebounds on 53 percent from distance and 57 percent from the field.

Though that sample size is not exactly large, his game improved as the season progressed. He’s still not a finished product at 21-years-old, and in his case, that’s actually a blessing. Ingram’s ceiling is easily a perennial all-star, he’s freakishly long and utilizes his frame to his advantage. His steps going toward the hoop rival that of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s and Kevin Durant’s.

If he adopts a consistent jumper and increases his activity on the defensive end, he could blossom amongst the league’s elite. With his 6’9 frame combined with a 7’3 wingspan, he can disrupt the flow of the opposition’s offense. But again, consistency has been an issue. His defensive potential was on full display against Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics in the Lakers lone trip to Boston this season. Here’s what Kyrie had to say on Ingram’s defense, via Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe.

"“Being guarded by Brandon Ingram most of the game, I can’t even lie to you guys, those guys on the defensive end are unusual. Driving lanes that I see against every other team, they were closing down the lane.”"

Likewise, his decision making still has to mature, he can be indecisive with the basketball and take ill-advised long two-point field goals(14.1 percent of his offensive game came from 16ft-3pt, compared to 12.9 from 3pt this season).

His fit in New Orleans would be a little tricky. In the second half of the 2017/18 season when Luke Walton began using him in a “point forward’ role, he played the then best stretch of basketball of his career. He’s ball dominant, Zion is ball dominant, he often gets the ball at the top of the perimeter and creates a play for his teammates or himself, kind of in the same manner Zion does (just a skinnier, lankier Zion). For the two to coexist on the court simultaneously, one of them would have to sacrifice and play more off-ball than they’re accustomed too.

Brandon Ingram had trouble playing alongside LeBron James, who’s irrefutably the greatest “point forward” of all-time. Could similar issues persist with a player like Williamson? Or could coach Alvin Gentry figure out a way to get the best out of both talents? Let us know what you think about the Lakers assets in the comments below!