If you ask the Lakers, it’s doubtful they’d have any regrets about pulling the trigger on the Anthony Davis trade. Despite giving up the vast majority of their talented young core, the combo of Davis and James is what brought them the 2020 Championship.
But for former Lakers Brandon Ingram, who was one of the main pieces of that blockbuster trade, the whole ordeal made a lasting impression that he recalls even over a year later. Speaking on “The Old Man & The Three” podcast, the 2020 All-Star explained the impact those AD trade rumors had on him and his young teammates at the time.
“I know other guys around me, it killed them every day,” Ingram said on the Old Man and the Three podcast. “When you wake up and you see your name on Twitter, and the guys around me, they love Twitter. They love searching, putting in their names.”
In the end, it worked out for pretty much everybody involved. The Lakers are Champions while Ingram has blossomed into an All-Star on a very promising Pelicans team. ‘Zo and Hart are continuing to improve.
Still, it goes to show the effect rumors can have on players. Seeing your name in the headlines every day, not knowing if or when you might get traded — it can’t be a good feeling. For now, at least, Ingram doesn’t have to worry about any of that.
