It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers is headed for changes in the next NBA season, where the team aims to make more impact. The team will indeed have to do some adjustments, especially after its star shooting guard, Kobe Bryant, went on retirement at the end of the last season.
The LA Lakers' new coach, Luke Walton, is also on change mode, looking at moving pieces to be able to give his team more chances next season. One of the pieces rumored to be moving out from the team soon is rookie Brandon Ingram.
According to a report by Sportsrageous.com, the LA Lakers is looking at trading small forward Ingram for the Philadelphia 76ers' current power forward and center, Nerlens Noel.
The main reason for the supposed trade, according to the website, is the LA Lakers' need to fortify its defense within the shaded area, aside from improving its fast pace of play. Noel perfectly fits into this picture, and can help Timofey Mozgov man the center for the Lakers.
Similarly, Ingram also looks like he can work well with Philadelphia 76ers' top pick this year, forward Ben Simmons. The team can oversee the two young players mature into their own playing styles, according to Sportsrageous.com.
This rumored trade appeared all the more possible after CSNNE.com quoted sports executive and Philadelphia 76ers advisor Jerry Colangelo as saying that he is "absolutely not" comfortable having three centers for the team next season. Aside from Noel, the 76ers also have three other big men: Jahlil Okafor, Dario Saric and Joel Embiid.
Colangelo hinted that the 76ers may let go of one of these talents to address other needs of the team.
"We're not going to make a bad deal just to make a deal. I think we can be a better basketball team if we can distribute that talent better. Maybe take one of those assets and address other needs on the roster," Colangelo said.
"I think right now it's best to say we like all of them, we want to see if we can make the most out of each of them. At the end of the day, the reality says one has to go at some point but only when the deal is right," he added.
