Trade Proposal Sends Brandon Ingram To Jazz, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler To Pelicans

According to NBA reporter Christian Clark of NOLA.com, the Utah Jazz could be interested in acquiring Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans. 

Ingram is in the final year of his contract. 

“The Jazz are a team NBA insiders have circled as being a potential Brandon Ingram suitor,” Clark reported. “The bigs on Utah’s roster include Walker Kessler, John Collins, Drew Eubanks and Kyle Filipowski. Kessler, who’s still on his rookie contract, offers rim protection, a quality Pelicans executive David Griffin has been seeking to add for more than a year.”

Under CBA rules, the Jazz can trade Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and Walker Kessler to the Pelicans for Ingram, who will make $36 million next season. 

One of the best scorers in the NBA, Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Ingram averaged 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 34.5% overall and 25.0% from 3 in the series. 

A Duke product, Ingram has 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. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. 

Sexton averaged 18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 48.7% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 85.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $18.4 million next season. 

Clarkson will make $14.3 million next season in the final year of his contract. He averaged 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 41.3% from the field, 29.4% from beyond the arc and 88.1% from the free-throw line in 55 games. 

Kessler appeared in 64 games for the Jazz in 2023-24. He averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.4 blocks while shooting 65.4% from the field, 21.1% from beyond the arc and 60.2% from the free-throw line.