LeBron James: Lakers executive reveals decision on Brandon Ingram trade

That’s what an anonymous Lakers executive has told Bleacher Report.

Beal is available for trade with the Washington Wizards listening to offers for all of their players as they seek to rebuild amid off-court issues, having also started the year just 7-12.

And the Lakers – who are looking to contest the Golden State Warriors’ dominance – are one of the teams have been linked with a move for the All-Star guard.

LA are shy of deadly shooters with Beal consistent from three-point range across his career having hit 39 per-cent on 5.5 attempts per game since joining the league in 2012-13.

Ingram’s failure to adjust with LeBron so far sees him as the most likely candidate to be traded given his potential – which would surely appeal to the Wizards’ demands.

But with Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson among their free agency options in the summer and the suggestion that a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis could be in the works, signing Beal would cut out the possibility of moving for a major player in the offseason.

And an exec insists swapping away Ingram is not something the Lakers are currently considering – with Beal’s numbers at the start of his third year in the league having been similar to his.

“It’s too early to tell for Ingram,” he said. “Where was [Beal] at the same age?

“Getting LeBron… makes it interesting.

“Obviously, we didn’t draft the guys [the Lakers have on the roster] knowing we would get him.”

Much of the decision weighs on the strength of the Lakers’ long-term strategy and their confidence at attracting the likes of Durant and Davis further down the line.

Durant and Thompson could re-sign with Golden State, although the former is widely expected to leave, while Leonard appears settled with the Toronto Raptors.

Bringing in one of those superstars alongside LeBron would greatly enhance the Lakers’ chance of a first championship since 2010, while they could still look to then sacrifice members of their young core later down the line to try and land Davis and form a Big Three.

But Beal would be a more immediate option, with the Wizards star averaging 22.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists this year despite the Wizards’ struggles.

Beal would be a good fit for LeBron and the Lakers but his contract – and the cap space sacrifice it would mean – makes any deal unlikely considering Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front-office’s ambitions.

The 25-year-old has two years on his contract at $27.1million and $28.8m, which would cut the Lakers’ cap space in half.

He would improve the Lakers right now, given Ingram’s inconsistent play after what was an encouraging second season in the league last year, but would hinder their longer term plans.

Yet the longer Ingram’s struggles with LeBron continue – with the 21-year-old a massively different prospect without the four-time MVP on court alongside him – the more the Lakers will be tempted to switch things up.