LeBron's role with the Los Angeles Lakers is set in stone. From the day he decided to sign with the team, it was apparent that he would be the top dog and leader, both on and off the floor. Los Angeles had a young team even before LeBron's arrival, and his presence as the elder statesman is obvious. So far this season, LeBron has shined in his usual role, carrying the Lakers to one of the top spots in the West after a rough start. However, as great as LeBron has been and continues to be, he is still 33 years old in his 16th season.

It may not seem like it for players like LeBron, but decline is inevitable. The Lakers will need to find a successor to the throne, or at the very least someone who can take the load off of LeBron's shoulders when he may not be at his best.

The Lakers have yet to determine a true number two option, and they've largely filled the position by committee this season. The responsibility has been handed to a few players this season, including Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram. The young trio have all been tasked with taking the secondary scoring or playmaking role, and all three have had varying degrees of success.

lebron james

In the case of Brandon Ingram, he has shown flashes of brilliance, but it's become clear that he's not cut out to be the second option on a championship level team – at least not at this stage of his career.

Here are three reasons why Brandon Ingram isn't ready to become the Lakers' second option.

He Has Yet To Establish His Identity And Role

When LeBron James signed with both the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, he entered situations where existing or incoming stars on those teams knew their roles. For the Heat, James was joining both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, both of whom were established, elite offensive players at the time. For the Cavs, James was joining Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, both successful individual players who had yet to taste team success.

The situation that LeBron inherits with this Lakers team is vastly different. The core of the team is young, first and second year players with high potential. Players like Ingram, Kuzma and Ball have the chance to become special players, but it's clear that they'll need more experience in order to do so. In the cases of Ball and Kuzma, it seems that they've at least determined their strengths and weaknesses as professional players.

Luke Walton, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Lakers
CP

Lonzo Ball has often been criticized for his shooting numbers, but he excels as a passer, playmaker and defender. Luke Walton can play Ball with confidence late in games because he knows that he has a high basketball IQ and critical defensive ability. Kyle Kuzma is, statistically, the Lakers' second best scorer behind LeBron. LeBron will often look to give Kuzma high percentage looks because he has a knack for getting to his spots on the floor.

When it comes to Brandon Ingram, it's difficult to determine what his identity is as a professional player. He is, at best, an average defender. He only averages two assists per game, and he isn't an extremely prolific scorer. With time, Ingram may be able to nail down what the best part of his game is and use it to his advantage, but for now he's simply not refined enough as a player to be the Lakers' number two player.

He Isn't A Great Outside Shooter

The Lakers are near the bottom of the league in both three point percentage and three pointers made. In an era of basketball where threes are more important than they've ever been, outside shooting is a major priority. The Lakers will need a player who can hit outside shots consistently, and Ingram is not that player. In terms of three point percentage, Brandon Ingram is the ninth-best three point shooter on the Lakers' roster. A player expected to be the second option will need to be more prolific from long range if the Lakers want to be successful in the long run.

It's often said that LeBron James has been most successful with shooters around him, and the numbers prove that to be true. James' championship teams with the Heat and Cavaliers all had players who were able to knock down long range shots reliably. The Cavaliers were notoriously good three point shooters in James' second stint with the team, breaking regular season and playoff records for threes made in a game.

Ingram can still be a valuable contributor for the Lakers offensively. He averages over 15 points a game and has been relatively efficient as a scorer. However, don't be surprised if players like Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart play down the stretch because of their ability to shoot.

Brandon Ingram, Lakers

He Could Be Traded

Ingram, Ball, Kuzma and Hart have all been discussed in potential trades to bring a second established star to the Lakers. It's not unreasonable to suggest that all four could still be dealt, but Ingram is likely the most expendable of the four players. Ball's playmaking, Hart's shooting and Kuzma's overall ability make them pieces the Lakers should be less eager to deal in a potential trade.

Rumors have put Ingram at the forefront of trade talks with Washington, and a potential deal to bring Bradley Beal to the Lakers could still be on the table. Beal would be a massive upgrade over Ingram, as he is an established scorer with the outside shooting touch the Lakers are in desperate need of. Ingram is a good young player and could very well become a star in this league, but for a team with a finite championship window like the Lakers, he may be expendable if a better option or an upgrade presents itself.