This must be reassuring for everyone else on the team.
Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson appeared on a radio interview with ESPN Los Angeles and circled 2016 No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram as the only untouchable player on the roster.
"I would say probably the only player that we would say, hey, we would probably not move is Brandon Ingram," Johnson said, as transcribed by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.
"I think that we're excited about Brandon, his length, his size, his agility, his athleticism. And then when you think about, you know, he was a baby coming in, in his first year last season and we see that he really has a high ceiling and we're excited about what he can possibly turn into."
Ingram struggled to start his rookie year, but most of his shortcomings were tied to his slim stature. The 6-foot-9, 19-year-old was not only one of the youngest players in the league, he also weighed less than 200 pounds and was often unable to hold his position.
The Duke product eventually got more comfortable as the year went on. The versatile forward was entrusted to run the point in Luke Walton's egalitarian offense while also honing his abilities off the ball. Ingram eventually finished his year averaging 9.4 points, four rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Ingram is the crown jewel on a Lakers roster littered with prospects. Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell, Larry Nance, Ivica Zubac, and Jordan Clarkson all hold potential for growth, but they're all secondary to Ingram when it comes to the future of the team.
