5 Potential Trade Partners if the Pelicans Trade Brandon Ingram
Ian Mukundi
Host · Writer
New York Knicks
The Knicks are coming off of a second round loss to the Pacers after a breakout playoff run for Jalen Brunson. Brunson averaged 32.9 points for New York in the playoffs, powering the Knicks through what felt like injury after injury. If the Knicks lose forward O.G. Anunoby in unrestricted free agency, they could turn to a trade with the Pelicans for Brandon Ingram to replace O.G.'s offensive production and help alleviate Brunson's heavy workload. Should New York choose to move Julius Randle for Ingram, it could open up a three-team trade due to the duplicative skillsets of Zion Williamson and Randle.
5 Potential Trade Partners if the Pelicans Trade Brandon Ingram
The Anthony Davis trade hasn't worked out for the Pelicans the way they thought it would five years ago when they moved their franchise player in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and picks. The centrepiece of the deal for New Orleans was Ingram and after several seasons marred by injuries in a heavily competitive West, it might be time for the Pelicans to explore trading Ingram to bring in some more help for Zion Williamson. Ingram is also entering the last year of his contract and should he not re-sign with New Orleans, they'll have to look at trading him or risk losing him for nothing in free agency. Here are five teams that could potentially look at trading for Ingram.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are rumoured to be interested in bringing in any high-level wings expected to hit the market this off-season. Philadelphia is ready to pounce at LeBron James or Paul George, but they may look at another name if things don't work out with their first two options, Brandon Ingram. Ingram can provide the type of tertiary scoring the Sixers would need alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The addition of Ingram would add more injury risks to the team but if Embiid and Ingram can stay healthy, Philadelphia may finally have the piece they need to push into the Conference Finals, something they haven't been able to do in the Embiid era.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings have two of the best players in the association, De'Aaron Fox and Domatas Sabonis. Sacramento has made it to the first-round and the play-in tournament in the last two seasons and with the West getting stronger by the year they may need to add more juice into their starting line-up. Brandon Ingram could add a high-level scoring threat to take the pressure off of Fox and Sabonis while also being able to facilitate the ball in Sacramento's high-octane offense. Ingram would bolster the wings for Sacramento a much-needed upgrade from veteran forward Harrison Barnes.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are approaching a huge off-season largely in part to Donovan Mitchell's pending contract extension. If Mitchell chooses to turn down the deal Cleveland will have to explore trading the three-time All-Star. However, if Mitchell re-signs the Cavs front office could go out and make a move, potentially involving Darius Garland, to bring in Brandon Ingram to add to the Cavs core. Cleveland has a great big man duo with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and adding Ingram and his 7-foot-3 wingspan into the mix would offer an interesting dynamic for the Cavs on both ends of the floor.
Memphis Grizzlies
It was a down year for the Grizzlies, starting off with Ja Morant's suspension and enduring the worst injury luck in the NBA, this season. Memphis will be a potential force in the West at full strength with a former Defensive Player of the Year in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, who's coming off a career-year averaging 23.7 points.
Brandon Ingram could be another lethal weapon to add to Memphis, who could trot out a deadly line-up of Morant, Bane, Ingram, Jackson Jr. and G.G. Jackson, who averaged 20.8 points in April to close out his rookie campaign.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are coming off of a second round loss to the Pacers after a breakout playoff run for Jalen Brunson. Brunson averaged 32.9 points for New York in the playoffs, powering the Knicks through what felt like injury after injury. If the Knicks lose forward O.G. Anunoby in unrestricted free agency, they could turn to a trade with the Pelicans for Brandon Ingram to replace O.G.'s offensive production and help alleviate Brunson's heavy workload. Should New York choose to move Julius Randle for Ingram, it could open up a three-team trade due to the duplicative skillsets of Zion Williamson and Randle.
5 Potential Trade Partners if the Pelicans Trade Brandon Ingram
The Anthony Davis trade hasn't worked out for the Pelicans the way they thought it would five years ago when they moved their franchise player in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and picks. The centrepiece of the deal for New Orleans was Ingram and after several seasons marred by injuries in a heavily competitive West, it might be time for the Pelicans to explore trading Ingram to bring in some more help for Zion Williamson. Ingram is also entering the last year of his contract and should he not re-sign with New Orleans, they'll have to look at trading him or risk losing him for nothing in free agency. Here are five teams that could potentially look at trading for Ingram.
