Brandon Ingram’s days with the New Orleans Pelicans gave the impression to be numbered. It simply relies on whether or not that day comes earlier than the Feb. 6 NBA commerce deadline or in free company.
The 27-year-old is within the last season of a five-year, $158 million contract, and seems unlikely to signal an extension with the Pelicans. A one-time All-Star (2019-20), Ingram was restricted to 18 video games this season as a consequence of calf and ankle accidents. He additionally did not play greater than 64 video games in a single season in his six years in New Orleans as a consequence of varied accidents (different points embrace knee and Achilles flare-ups).
On the opposite hand, Ingram is a confirmed scorer in his prime. Averaging 23.0 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per recreation and taking pictures 37.2 % from behind the arc during the last six seasons, Ingram is a well-rounded scorer who can rating off the dribble , take up contact and shoot effectively.
Here are the highest three commerce locations for Ingram in case New Orleans, which owns the worst document within the Western Conference at 8-31, seeks a return for him earlier than the commerce deadline.
3.Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are in no man’s land. They are aggressive sufficient to be within the Play-In match combine and never dangerous sufficient to have a high seed within the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. The one constant trait Chicago has demonstrated via its actions (holding Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Coby White and buying and selling Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey) is that he intends to compete for the playoffs. With that in thoughts, Ingram presents the Bulls with a chance to shake up their offense for the higher.
LaVine is the driving drive behind Chicago’s offense; Vucevic is among the greatest scoring facilities within the recreation; White has blossomed right into a believable shooter and scorer; Josh Giddey can facilitate and execute the quick break. But a realignment is required for the Bulls (18-20) to be greater than only a play-in match workforce, which is what they’ve been in every of the final two full seasons.
Ingram provides the Bulls a second confirmed scorer who can rating in quite a lot of methods, with LaVine being the opposite. LaVine, Ingram and White can be an electrical scoring trio that the Bulls may lean on and preserve them from having to depend on AS so much on LaVine to play the hero. Ingram makes the beginning 5 sooner and would level in direction of rivalry.
Chicago may ship Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter to New Orleans for Ingram and a second-rounder. The Pelicans get their new beginning heart, who can be underneath contract till subsequent season, and a budding wing in Dosunmu, whereas the Bulls make modifications to their beginning 5 with a brand new piece of the puzzle in Ingram. Jalen Smith would later grow to be Chicago’s new beginning heart.
At the identical time, Chicago may view a midseason transfer for a participant like Ingram as one they’d solely make AS particularly for his or her probabilities of making noise within the Eastern Conference playoffs, nonetheless being twenty ninth in factors surrendered (120.8 per recreation).
2.Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have not shone underneath first-year coach JJ Redick, however they’re nonetheless a good 20-16 and preventing to keep away from the play-in match. Anthony Davis is taking part in in addition to ever; 40-year-old LeBron James nonetheless performs at an All-Star caliber degree; Austin Reaves is averaging a career-high 18.3 factors per recreation. But if the Lakers need to get previous the primary spherical of the Western Conference playoffs, they’re going to want some grit. Enter Ingram, who provides the Lakers one other participant who can carry a major scoring load.
A beginning 5 that features Davis, James, Ingram and Reaves provides the Lakers 4 gamers who can decelerate the sport and create offense on their very own. Additionally, the highest three gamers would kind as formidable a frontcourt scoring trio as any within the NBA, making it tough for defenses to focus on Davis or James.
Magic Johnson on the roof of the Los Angeles Lakers this season
Los Angeles may ship Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent to New Orleans for Ingram and a second-rounder. The Lakers have ready for post-James life – ought to retirement be on the desk subsequent offseason – by including one other vibrant scorer to the combo. They additionally preserve efficient younger gamers, like rookie Dalton Knecht and Max Christie, out of this commerce.
Meanwhile, Hachimura and Vanderbilt, as soon as wholesome, would play fast roles for the Pelicans, who may try to redirect Vincent. That stated, the Lakers doubtlessly not desirous to decide to long-term payroll anymore with James’ profession finish date up within the air – ought to they re-sign Ingram – may forestall an Ingram commerce from happening.
1. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have taken a leap ahead this season and Ingram can assist them maintain that leap and take one other step within the close to future. Victor Wembanyama is on the verge of turning into a famous person, if he is not already; Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are confirmed wing scorers; rookie Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie are having their moments.
Wembanyama does all of it offensively and might, undoubtedly, be the workforce’s No. 1 scorer within the competitors, however the Spurs (18-19) as a complete rely closely on the 3-ball (40.1 makes an attempt per recreation, which was sixth within the NBA) getting into Friday). Ingram offers them with a participant who, whereas actually succesful and efficient at lengthy vary taking pictures, is extra of a striker.
With Ingram attacking the rack and drawing consideration within the paint, San Antonio has the shooters on the wings to make groups pay for permitting Ingram to get a step on them with him discovering the open man – or ending on the iron. He brings a various talent set to the desk and a monitor document of being a purpose scorer. Ingram’s timeline matches San Antonio’s, as he can be a 27-year veteran and No. 1 scorer. 2 for an rising nucleus.
San Antonio may ship Harrison Barnes, Zach Collins, its 2026 first-rounder and a pair of second-rounders to New Orleans for Ingram. The Pelicans get future draft capital and will look to redirect Barnes and Collins for extra draft capital, whereas the Spurs get a participant who ascends their future.
By buying Ingram, the Spurs would transfer on from two gamers who’re probably not long-term items of the puzzle (Barnes and Collins), see how Ingram matches into coach Gregg Popovich’s system, and get the within monitor on re-acquiring him in the summertime. With the continued development of Wembanyama, Champagnie, Castle and Jeremy Sochan, Ingram might be the veteran complement that makes the Spurs a Western Conference contender over the following two seasons.
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