Ingram looking more like the young talent Lakers will move

The Los Angeles Lakers are in a bit of a quandary -- a pickle if you will -- as it relates to third-year player Brandon Ingram.

The uber-talented small forward from Duke had hopes of being the next Kevin Durant as he showcased the dexterity and skill rarely seen from players who stand 6-foot-9 and taller.

However, Ingram had a rough start to his rookie season, where he was slow to develop into the second coming of Durant. He did display those abilities later on that year when he started the final 26 games in which he appeared, and scored double figures in 20 of those contests.

His play over those final games gave newly named president of basketball operations Magic Johnson enough confidence to deem Ingram untouchable as trade bait that offseason.

For the 2017-18 season, Ingram took a step forward, improving in all areas offensively. His scoring increased from 9.4 to 16.1 points. His field-goal percentage improved dramatically from a below-average 40.2%, to a respectable 47%. He also converted on 39% of his 3-point attempts.

All signs pointed toward Ingram being groomed to take over as the Lakers' primary scorer, until LeBron James shocked (not really) the world by announcing he would don the purple and gold and join Johnson in potentially bringing a championship back to LA.

No big deal right? Not necessarily. The waters muddied slightly with the addition of Rajon Rondo, who plays a different position than Ingram, but one that requires his hands to constantly be on the basketball -- just like James.

Even still, Ingram has statistically played well alongside James so far this season. His numbers are down slightly from 16.1 to 15.2 points, but it's not necessarily what Ingram has done, rather than the emergence of others around him -- most notably Kyle Kuzma.

For Ingram, it's beginning to feel as if manifest destiny is upon him. The stars have aligned against him to show there may be a different path ahead of him, and that was no more clearer than what happened on Oct. 20 of this year.

In a case of when keeping it real goes wrong, Ingram may have set the stage for his Lakers exile without really knowing. In a heated contest between the Houston Rockets, tempers flared when Ingram felt Rockets' guard James Harden pushed him on a play in which Ingram was subsequently called for a foul.

After being consoled by his teammates, a scuffle broke out between Chris Paul and Rondo reminiscent of the NBA days of old. Ingram, wanting to be his brother's keeper, broke away from the players, trying to calm him down and proceeded to throw a few haymakers of his own.

Once the dust settled, Paul, Rondo, and Ingram were all ejected -- and that's when the clock began to start on Ingram.

But back to Kuzma.

As far as fate goes, the Lakers' next game could not have gone any better for the second-year player. In Ingram's absence, Kuzma got the call, and he more than answered the bell.

In a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Kuzma poured in 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting, including four threes. Proving again that no lights are too bright and sharing the stage with a man self-proclaimed as "The King," Kuzma showed that he too could handle a starring role.

During Ingram's four-game suspension, Kuzma averaged 21.8 points in a more increased role. However, he was just getting started.

With Ingram eventually coming back, Kuzma's overall role diminished again as his field-goal attempts dropped, along with his total minutes per game. However, fate once again was on the wrong side for Ingram as he sprained his left ankle against the Spurs two weeks ago.

Seeing another chance at more responsibility, Kuzma again took advantage. This time in Ingram's absence, Kuzma is averaging 23 points.

With time away from the team Ingram has had -- both self-inflicted and due to injury -- he has made himself dispensable. The Lakers are looking for max players to pair with LeBron, and with a bevy of individuals on their roster who need the ball in their hands to be successful, it makes the decision rather simple to possibly leave Ingram out.

So the question now is not whether Ingram will be moved or not, it's just a matter of when. I'm just keeping it real.