The New Orleans Pelicans may not be actively shopping small forward Brandon Ingram, but everyone around the NBA is sure saying they are.
Ingram has already been linked to the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and several others. Well, we can now throw the Portland Trail Blazers in the mix.
And Portland might actually make sense. After all, per NBA insider Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, the Blazers likely don’t yet feel complete. And they have precisely what the Pelicans need — a center.
“The Blazers are a young team that is going to be making some roster moves in the offseason,” Seigel wrote. “Portland recently dealt Malcolm Brogdon to the Washington Wizards in a package for Deni Avdija, and they drafted Donovan Clingan to be the new face in their frontcourt, which already features Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III.”
That may make Portland a natural trade partner for New Orleans. Perhaps the most natural.
“Ingram being traded to Portland is not as crazy as it may sound, especially since the Blazers are in need of an immediate source of scoring next to their high-potential backcourt,” Seigel wrote. “After all, the Pelicans have long held interest in Ayton and Anfernee Simons, sources said.”
So, yeah. If there isn’t anything to this yet, there should be. It’s hard to envision the Blazers going into the year with three centers. And the Pelicans with none, and Ingram.
“The Pelicans will continue to hold trade conversations surrounding Ingram heading into Summer League, leading to the forgone conclusion around the league that he will not be on their roster to begin the 2024-25 season,” Seigel concluded.
Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans in 2023-24, shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% on 3-pointers and 80.1% from the free-throw line.
He carries career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers and Pelicans.
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