2016 NBA Draft: 5 rookies primed to make biggest impact

3. Brandon Ingram

Maybe the Lakers would have liked a more unique talent such as Ben Simmons to fall to them. Perhaps he could be a more marketable face of the franchise with higher upside and all those ridiculous, Laker friendly, Magic Johnson comparisons.

Nevertheless, they got their guy that everyone has been expecting them to for months in Brandon Ingram, and there’s no doubt he’ll immediately start brightening up their future.

Similarly to Simmons being compared to LeBron James and Magic, Ingram has suffered another incoherent comparison of his own: Kevin Durant. They aren’t close in terms of skill level after leaving college and Ingram won’t ever be the next Durant, but he’s still an excellent wing prospect and can help bolster the Lakers’ perimeter play at both ends of the floor.

Now that Kobe Bryant has left L.A. after 20 years and the Lakers clearly have no other wing players who deserve to be favored at small forward, more offensive opportunities are available and a starting spot for Ingram at the three alongside Julius Randle at the four is exciting for Lakers fans.

At 6’9″ with an incredibly spider-like 7’3″ wingspan, highlighting his long, frail frame, Ingram has ideal size for a wing in today’s NBA. He has enough foot speed to match smaller players at the perimeter and bother them with his superior length, while having the potential to gain strength as a small-ball four, using his ridiculous combination of bounce and reach to protect the rim.

Remember, he’s the youngest collegiate player in this draft at 18 and went through a late growth spurt. He may not be the strongest player, but it’s not like his body will never fill out with the correct strength training.

Beyond defense, it’s Ingram’s offensive skill set that really garners so much attention for a player his size. He can handle the ball well and create his own shot off the dribble, possessing solid passing instincts, too, giving him fluidity and skill set that not many gangly 6’9″ players have. His shooting range is also a major point of intrigue for his upside after he shot 41 percent from three last season. With Randle working inside, Ingram can be the complimentary shooter.

Once he gains strength, improves his ability to finish through traffic and generally hone his game, Ingram has All-Star potential some day and the ability to make a significant impact right now.

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