Duke Blue Devils: Brandon Ingram taken 2nd
Former Duke Blue Devils player Brandon Ingram was selected with the second pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
The Duke Blue Devils struck first among the ACC squads when former player Brandon Ingram was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the way we were told it would happen, but this draft proved that we had little clue what would go down so good for Ingram that the Lakers did not do something silly.
Ingram joins a young roster with Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, and Julius Randle. There is an open spot at the small forward position just waiting for him after it was vacated by retiring great Kobe Bryant. The face lift of the Lakers is now complete and young Coach Luke Walton will lead the young Lakers into the new season.
Listening to the ESPN draft coverage (loved the paring of Mike Wilbon, Jay Bilas, and Rece Davis by the way. Jalen Rose was not as bad as last year, so good for ESPN), it seemed that they were not sold on the idea that Russell could fit in a Golden State type system that they expected Walton to run. They seem to think Russell could be moved, but maybe they were just trying to generate interest in a draft day trade.
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Meanwhile that crew loved the fit between Walton and Ingram. Incidentally Walton and Ingram will share the same professional position. Walton was a contributor but not starter at small forward for the Lakers. If he can use the Jim Harbaugh effect on Ingram, then Ingram will be in good hands.
So Duke had its second good night. First Kyrie Irving (and Dahntay Jones) wins the NBA Championship and now Ingram is the second pick in the draft. The only other Duke player who might have been selected was Marshall Plumlee, and if he does not catch on in summer league then he will probably just go ahead with his military commitment.
A final note. Despite a lot of smoke, the Philadelphia 76ers have not yet traded Jahlil Okafor or anyone else. Stay tuned.
Now Duke fans can turn the page to the coming college basketball season to see if Grayson Allen can ride all those high rated freshman to a national title. As soon as Coach K wins the gold in Rio, of course.