re: What's Brandon Ingrams ceiling?

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He and Zion are the future

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Yep. Two guys from the rural Carolinas. Based on Ingram’s reaction to the trade and Zion’s overwhelming positivity since the draft they may be the right kind of potential superstars for a smaller market. It’s early yet, but these guys didn’t grow up in a huge city...maybe they’ll be fine with turning New Orleans into the next San Antonio.

I think it's going to be an interesting decision with him next year, when he'll be due for a new contract. I think his future will depend on how we're doing next year. If we aren't contending for a playoff spot, Ingram could command a lot of value to a contending team at the trade deadline. I think a lot will depend on how well he fits with the rest of the young guys.

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BI was drafted into a large market, and can speak to Z from his experience, that he grass isn’t always greener in the large market.

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I hypothesized the same thing a few weeks ago.

Maybe it doesn't work, but getting three guys that are going to be close to Zion that can speak from experience about how glamour markets aren't always glamorous, could do wonders for keeping him humble when the Klutch's and Lebron's of the league start getting in his ear during the Olympics and about how his star would shine so much brighter in NY and LA.

Combine that with a winning team and there probably isn't much more you can do to entice him to go beyond a second contract here.

Contract year so I would expect him to ball out. He'll never be KD those comparisons were kinda unfair but 20 points per game type of guy that's a solid defender easily.

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 and I think he fits with the team but I’m worried he’s gonna demand big money next offseason

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18 5 and 3 is not getting a max deal unless his nickname is "the glove2" and its not.

You hope he earns a max deal.

Imho he's just a guy with an expensive hairdo.
6 9 sf

He only tried 1.8 3 pointers per game. .329 career.

The reason he's listed as sf is because his boards are meh.

He's just a guy. 3 assists. 5 boards. No 3 pt shooting.

a high pick not really quite up to the #2 pick they used.

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Contract year so I would expect him to ball out. He'll never be KD those comparisons were kinda unfair but 20 points per game type of guy that's a solid defender easily.

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I forgot what podcast it was but they made an interesting point about the anchor of expectations and why we should rethink how we judge Ingram.

They did this by comparing Ingram to Giannis(making note not to claim Ingram is or will be as good as Giannis, they don't think so).

One came into the league as the second pick, from Duke, to LA, with lofty comparisons of being in the mold of KD.

The other was an unheralded international kid taken at 15.

At the end of their third seasons respectively their stat lines don't look all that different:

Ingram: 18.3ppg, 49.7%fg, 33%3p, 5.2fta, 67.5%ft, 5.1reb, 3ssists.
Giannis: 16.9ppg, 50.6%fg, 25.7%3p, 5.1fta, 72.4%ft, 7.7reb, 4.1 asts.

Again, not comparing them, as even by then Giannis just had "it."

The difference:

Ingram was immediately judged through this prism of being compared as the next KD. Picked apart for every advanced analytical failing.

Giannis was simply the underdog, the nobody, the guy who had no expectations. The guy everyone was just wondering, at such a young age, where will his game go next?

So Giannis by his third year is this guy who is simply treated like the sky is the limit, but Ingram is simply seen as the guy who hasn't lived up to insane expectations of being one of the best players in the modern NBA by age 21. But the sky's the limit for him too, and perhaps we just need to re-align our expectations more neutrally to appreciate it.

Pulled these comments from a youtube video of Ingram scoring 36 points.



I hope he's right.

Does anyone have stats on how Russell and Randle improved after leaving the Lakers?

At this point, it seems pretty clear the LAL are a really poorly run outfit and that includes developing their talent. Russell and Randle really seemed to blossom after leaving so I think expecting Ingram and Ball to do the same seems logical.

Russells shooting and assist rate improved significantly

41/35 AST vs 27/21 in LA

10-16 ft shooting: LA: 34-35% BKN: 46/50

2 pointers more than 16: LA: 36/40 BKN: 45/41 on more attempts

How great he can be depends on if he can pack on 10-15LBs of muscle and how consistent his 3ball is when he’s in his prime. His ceiling is still very high though.