The phones stayed attached to their hands or ears. Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and General Manager Rob Pelinka hoped one of their many calls would turn into a franchise-changing trade.

Instead, the Lakers often heard something that made them hang up. Johnson said “everybody” inquired about second-year forward Brandon Ingram.

“Anybody that called us wanted him,” Johnson said. “We said, ‘No thank you.’”

The Lakers have considered Ingram untouchable, as they have placed higher value in his long-term trajectory and work habits than his statistics.

After the Lakers drafted Ingram at No. 2 in 2016, he made the league’s all-rookie second team while finishing seventh in his class in points per game (9.4) and 21st in field-goal percentage (40.2). Still, Ingram started in 40 out of 79 appearances and logged a league-leading 28.8 minutes among rookies last season because of how he exerted his influence.

“When you work as hard as he does and he has the talent that he has, eventually you’re going to figure it out,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said. “We’ve been seeing that all year.”

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Johnson praised Ingram for his positional versatility with his 6-foot-9, 190-pound frame, ball-handling, developing shot and defensive hustle. Johnson also credited Ingram for his persistent training even when “he was supposed to have days off.” Ingram inspired the Lakers with his dominance in one Summer League game before sitting out to rest a cramp. He impressed the Lakers with his subsequent off-court leadership and Johnson publicly thanked him in a recent press conference. Johnson later said, “those are the type of guys we have to keep.”

“The guy only cares about winning and basketball,” Johnson said. “He’s quiet and doesn’t do anything else. He is a very intelligent young man and is our hardest worker.”

As he sat down in a restaurant of the team hotel during Summer League, Ingram expressed appreciation for the Lakers’ unflinching commitment. He also seemed determined to ensure the Lakers do not regret their investment.

“It’s definitely a good compliment,” Ingram said. “I definitely want to show that I’m going to be a reliable guy to put in the work. I’ll do everything I can to reach my potential.”

MATCHING EXPECTATIONS

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss overhauled the front office five months ago, replacing her brother, Jim, and longtime General Manager Mitch Kupchak with Johnson and Pelinka. Despite their differing philosophies, both front offices valued Ingram.

The Lakers declined to make Ingram available in trade talks with Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins. Instead, the Lakers made offers that included D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, according to sources. After replacing Jim Buss two days before the Feb. 23 trade deadline, Johnson also stayed firm on retaining Ingram.

In the offseason, the Lakers then dealt Russell to Brooklyn while dumping Timofey Mozgov’s contract (three years, $48 million), acquiring Brook Lopez and collecting the No. 27 pick. In their failed pursuit for Paul George, the Lakers presented Clarkson or Julius Randle in various proposals to Indiana while declining inquires for their No. 2 pick and Ingram. Though the Lakers made the Brooklyn trade mostly to collect assets and shed salary, Russell had mixed support within the organization regarding his maturity and work habits.

“It really gave him peace of mind, knowing you’re not going to be on the trading block,” said Donald Ingram, Brandon’s father. “With them having a willingness to trade everybody else around you and hold onto you, that speaks volumes on how they feel about you. That gives you a sense of relaxation.”

Not too much, though.

“He should feel pressure,” said former NBA player Jerry Stackhouse, who has mentored Brandon Ingram since his childhood. “It’s cool and feels good to hear you’re untouchable. But it’s a red flag to me. Now they have a real expectation for you. Now you have to follow through and make good on it.”

Johnson specifically outlined what he wants next season.

“I expect him to lead us in scoring, be out there and be the man. It’s his team,” Johnson said of Ingram. “It would be disappointing if he didn’t score up toward 20 points a game.”

Johnson said he has repeated that message to Ingram, who expressed feeling empowered with the Lakers’ confidence in him.

“My standard is higher than anyone else can set. So with things like that, I just take it all in, ” Ingram said. “I’ve been in this league for one year, so I don’t know what to expect my second year or my third year. But I just know I’m going to work the hardest.”

CHARTING HIS GROWTH

Ingram also set high standards last year when he aspired to win the NBA’s rookie of the year award. Instead, Ingram lamented “how badly I played” and argued he could’ve landed on the NBA’s All-Rookie third team if not for “a few good months at the end of the season.”

“If I had the same mentality that I have right now that I came in with my rookie year, I think I definitely would’ve had first team,” Ingram said. “But I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t think I was disciplined and as ready as I am right now.”

The Lakers noticed. Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. observed Ingram “was still trying to feel his way out” as he assumed a reserve role with varying responsibilities as a wing player and ball-handling guard. Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson mused, “when he first came in, he would go to the basket all frail” as Ingram shied away from physical contact.

The Lakers still credited Ingram for trying, and stayed encouraged with his growth.

Ingram often went to the Lakers’ practice facility to work only to realize their Development League affiliate had a game. After practices and before games, Ingram worked on his ball handling, footwork and finishing with Lakers assistant coach Brian Keefe. Ingram soon referred to Keefe as “Pops” because “everybody says he’s my dad away from home.”

Ingram’s close family and friends also shielded him from the infinite distractions available in Los Angeles.

While Donald Ingram visited intermittently throughout the season, Brandon’s older brother, Bo, lived with him full time. Stackhouse’s nephew also stayed with Brandon and ran various errands for him, including getting groceries and driving him to practices and games. Ingram will have a similar arrangement next season, too.

“He kept me out of a lot of trouble,” Brandon Ingram said of Stackhouse’s nephew. “He made it easier on me where I can just focus on basketball.”

That focus sharpened when Ingram remarked to Keefe midway through the season, “I’m ready for the summer” when he would train extensively. Keefe countered, “after the All-Star break, I think you can make a big jump.” The feedback became clairvoyant.

Walton made Ingram’s starting job permanent. Early in that role during a late February practice, Johnson advised Ingram to attack the basket more off of pick-and-rolls. Ingram listened.

After averaging 8.0 points on 38.6 percent shooting before the NBA All-Star break, Ingram posted 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent over 11 starts in March. Nance noticed Ingram “was making the league adjust to him” as he increased his assertiveness in the post and in attacking the basket. Ingram harbored the same attitude toward teammates.

“We’d be talking (trash) to him sometimes,” Clarkson said. “He didn’t take any of that. He came back with it.”

Despite regretting his previous passiveness, Ingram still won equity for working without complaint.

“I’m glad it happened. It made me hungrier this summer,” Ingram said.” I learned how to be patient. I learned how to have a great attitude. When something is not going my way, I learned how to have a different mentality and learned different ways to affect the game.”

THE NEXT STEP

Ingram displayed that different mentality in the Lakers’ Summer League opener. Then, Ingram posted a team-high 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting with three assists, three steals and two blocks. While appearing more aggressive and developed in his footwork, Ingram also added an unspecified amount of weight in muscle. All of which he hopes serves as a sneak preview for the regular season.

“I’m going into every single game with the ability to compete against every basketball player on the floor,” Ingram said. “I’m trying to be the best basketball player on the floor every single night. I’m trying to lead my team to more victories.”

Ingram has also tried to assume that role by speaking louder. Lakers second-center Ivica Zubac mused that Ingram is “talking too much,” though Ingram contends he does to Zubac because “sometimes he can get a little complacent.” Meanwhile, Lakers rookie guard Lonzo Ball and others praised Ingram for his positive reinforcement.

“He was definitely pretty vocal and giving out help with his leadership,” Lakers rookie forward Kyle Kuzma said. “If he saw something, he definitely would speak his mind.”

Ingram did that even when the Lakers shut him down for the remainder of summer league. He trained with the team, sat on the bench and became what Kuzma called “a cheerleader.”

“That showed me the type of leader that he is and he’s going to become,” Johnson said during Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s press conference where Ingram and several teammates attended. “This guy is going to have a season where we’re all going to be shaking our heads.”

Those in Ingram’s inner circle are keeping him humbled, though.

“There’s a reason why you’re cramping,” Stackhouse told Ingram. “It has to do with the hydration and it has to do with nutrition.”

While Ingram has pledged to improve his diet, he has also focused on other areas. He continued ongoing drills with Stackhouse that tested his ability to hold his position in the post. Ingram also changed his shooting mechanics. While moving his elbow in and tweaking the release point on his shot, Ingram also has devoted more of his shooting sessions toward taking 3-pointers.

“I got a lot stronger,” Ingram said. “I don’t have to feel like I’m pushing the shot. I feel like it’s my regular shot.”

Ingram wants to diversify his scoring with drills on spot-up shooting drills, as well as working off pick-and-rolls, from the elbows and from the block. After offering positive reviews with the Lakers’ strength and conditioning coaches both past (Tim DiFrancesco) and present (Gunnar Peterson), Ingram plans to add more unspecified amount of strength through continuous weight training. And Ingram remained committed to his anticipated workout with former Lakers star Kobe Bryant that will focus on learning how he watches film, scouts teams and studies player tendencies.

“Everything we do on the basketball court is mental,” Ingram said. “It’s nothing physical.”

The Lakers are left encouraged with what makes Ingram tick.

“’I want to get better. I want to get better. I want to be an All-Star,’” Johnson said about Ingram’s mindset. “He’s driven with team success and individual success.”

And as a result, the Lakers have remained adamant about keeping him even if other teams try to convince them otherwise.

“I don’t worry about that stuff. I just come in and try to be myself, hard working and be a great player,” Ingram said. “Whatever happens in the front office is whatever. If I come in and put the work in, I think I’ll be fine.”