The San Antonio Spurs are doing their best to save a strained relationship with Kawhi Leonard. However, it might be too late. A recent report stated that the forward's camp wants him out of Alamo City to play for a "bigger market" squad. Three teams were on the list. These were the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Among them, it is the Los Angeles Lakers who are regulars in NBA trade rumors involving Kawhi Leonard. Several times in the past, the purple and gold got linked to "The Klaw," who is a native of the city.
If the Lakers plan to bring Kawhi back home, who among their blossoming prospects must they give up? Jabari Davis of SB Nation Silver Screen and Roll suggested that it may be Brandon Ingram.
Bye, bye, Brandon?
Before rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma arrived in the City of Angels last year, Brandon Ingram was untouchable for the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, it seems like that is beginning to change with his name popping up in NBA trade rumors connecting the rebuilding organization to superstars.
Who knows, Ingram could follow D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance, Jr. who already made their way out of Los Angeles. Russell, Clarkson, and Nance were part of the original group of youngsters the Lakers tried to mold into stars, but the experiment turned out unsuccessful.
In the end, they traded Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. Clarkson and Nance, on the other hand, were sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers and are helping LeBron James make it to his eighth consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
It is understandable why the Lakers would consider utilizing Ingram as a trade asset. A lot of teams will surely be interested in a 20-year-old who has shown massive improvement only in his second year in the league, despite battling a couple of injuries.
In the 2017-18 NBA regular season, Ingram stepped up big time. In 59 games (all starts), the former Duke Blue Devils standout averaged career-bests 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per outing.
The future is now
Should the San Antonio Spurs acquire Brandon Ingram from the Los Angeles Lakers, it will start a transition period for the Western Conference powerhouse.
With Kawhi Leonard gone, Tim Duncan retired, Manu Ginobili contemplating his next career move, and Tony Parker nearing his swan song, Ingram is going to join the likes of Dejounte Murray and Kyle Anderson as the future of the Spurs.
