ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith believes the Los Angeles Lakers should package Brandon Ingram in a trade to acquire more talent around superstar small forward LeBron James.
Brandon Ingram has played in six games this season and is averaging 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and 65.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Smith says Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart should be the only two players, besides James of course, who are untouchable in trade talks.
Trade Brandon Ingram to put BETTER pieces around LeBron James! pic.twitter.com/GI5qodEC6a
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 7, 2018
The Lakers enter Wednesday with a record of 4-6. They have the third-worst defense in the NBA, as the club is giving up a whopping 120.0 points per game.
When the Lakers were trying to acquire All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs over the summer, the franchise reportedly never offered Brandon Ingram to the Spurs. The Lakers were operating under the belief that giving up assets for Leonard wasn't smart since the two-time Defensive Player of the Year can become a free agent in 2019 and has been linked to joining Los Angeles.
However, that thinking may backfire on the Lakers.
Numerous reports have stated that if Leonard leaves the Toronto Raptors, he would prefer to sign with the Clippers instead of the Lakers. Leonard reportedly doesn't want to play in the shadow of LeBron James on the same team.
Other than Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Jimmy Butler, there aren't any high-caliber players available on the trade market right now. James' old teammate, Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love, can't be traded until the middle of January. He recently underwent successful surgery on his left foot.
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