Pelicans Should Just Go Ahead And Fire Up Those Brandon Ingram Trade Talks Again

November 12, 2024

The Pelicans are cursed. No, seriously. And given the state of things, they should go ahead and trade small forward Brandon Ingram. This was an idea first broached by Brad Botkin of CBS Sports and I totally agree.

Botkin’s reasons made sense, too.

Because if you’re a Pelicans fan, you might want to skip reading the injury report. It’s starting to look more like a novel. The latest setback? Jose Alvarado, the scrappy, relentless guard who injects energy into the team, is out for at least six weeks with a hamstring injury. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s tally up the list: Zion Williamson is on the shelf (again) with a hamstring issue that seems as ambiguous as it is infuriating.

CJ McCollum? Sidelined with an adductor strain. Dejounte Murray’s broken hand has him out until at least Thanksgiving. Herbert Jones, out with a rotator cuff issue, isn’t suiting up anytime soon, and rookie Jordan Hawkins is nursing a back strain. If you’re counting, that’s more than just bad luck. It’s a basketball catastrophe.

The Pelicans are stumbling at 3-8, with a defense that’s second-to-last in the league, a stat that jumps off the page. It’s déjà vu all over again for a team that had hopes of being a playoff contender but now finds itself fighting just to stay afloat.

We’ve seen this script before. Two years ago, New Orleans was on the verge of something special before Williamson went down, and the team spiraled out of contention. Now, it looks like that movie’s getting a sequel.

And here’s the harshest truth for Pelicans fans — without Zion, this team isn’t viable. Not for a serious playoff push, and maybe not even for a play-in spot. He’s played fewer than 100 games in his first four years, and while those flashes of brilliance have been tantalizing, they’re always too fleeting.

Relying on Zion’s health is like betting on a streaky shooter. It might work for a game, but over a season? The odds aren’t in your favor.

With all these injuries, attention has to turn to what the front office does next. And that brings us to Ingram, the most valuable chip they have left. On an expiring deal and seeking a max contract, Ingram is talented but may not be the piece that fits this puzzle.

His game — smooth, mid-range heavy, and ball-dominant — doesn’t mesh well with Zion, who needs space and control to dominate.

But trading Ingram isn’t simple. He’s a good player, sure, but not quite the franchise-altering talent teams give up premium assets for, especially with free agency looming. The Pelicans would need to accept a discounted return, but it’s a move they might have to make to avoid paying him max money next season or letting him walk for nothing.

If you’re a Pelicans optimist, you’ll point to their treasure chest of draft picks through 2031, thanks to trades involving Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.

Maybe the team gets healthy, goes on a run, and we forget all about these early-season woes. But that’s betting against history — and recent history isn’t kind to New Orleans.

The smarter play? Shop Ingram, collect assets, and quietly position for next season while keeping an eye on the lottery. This isn’t a full-blown tank — it’s strategic planning, as Botkin indicated.

Because right now, everything in New Orleans points to a season that’s slipping away. And if they’re not careful, they’ll be right back here next year, wondering what could have been.