After trading for a major backcourt upgrade earlier this offseason, New Orleans Pelicans team president David Griffin doesn’t appear to be finished making moves.
In a 4th of July edition of his must-read Substack, Marc Stein reports that one-time All-Star combo forward Brandon Ingram could be leaving town this summer.
“Attempts in New Orleans to trade Brandon Ingram have intensified in recent days, league sources say,” Stein writes. “Sources tell The Stein Line that on Ingram’s side, with the reality that the contract extension terms his camp had hoped for are not forthcoming from the Pelicans, there has likewise been exploration of trade options.”
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The 6-foot-8 former Duke Blue Devil currently has just one year left on the five-season, $158.3 million maximum deal he signed with New Orleans in 2020.
Last year, as the second-leading scorer for the 49-33 Pelicans, the 26-year-old averaged 20.8 points while slashing .492/.355/.801, 5.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks a night.
Ingram was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, one spot ahead of eventual five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA league champion combo forward Jayson Tatum.
After 20-time All-Star combo forward LeBron James arrived in town as a free agent in the summer of 2018, L.A.’s title timeline was suddenly expected. James suffered the first long-term injury of his career, veteran point guard Rajon Rondo missed major time, and Los Angeles plummeted to a 37-45 record, missing the playoffs entirely. James’ streak of eight straight NBA Finals appearances ended in the ignominy of a botched postseason bid.
Ingram, still then on his rookie-scale salary, became one of the prize pieces acquired by the Pelicans in the epic trade that sent All-NBA big man Anthony Davis to Los Angeles. Ingram, point guard Lonzo Ball, shooting guard Josh Hart, three first-round draft picks, and a first-round pick swap.
Subsequently, Ingram blossomed in the Bayou. During his first year with the Pelicans, he posted career-best averages of 23. 8 points on .463/.391/.851 shooting splits, 6.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks a night, plus 4.2 assists and one steal (not career highs, but still respectable averages nevertheless), while being named the league’s Most Improved Player and a one-time All-Star.
Playing alongside injury-prone fellow All-Star ex-Dukie Zion Williamson, Ingram has at times seemed like an awkward fit. Both players are switchy forwards who thrive with the ball in their hands. Williamson is generally considered to have the higher upside, but because their shot profiles are so different (Ingram is a prolific three-point ace, while Williamson thrives most within the post), they were seen as an appetizing pairing.
Now, it appears the Pelicans and Ingram are finally ready to cut ties.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.