Report: Cavaliers Could Have Trade Interest In Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram

According to Grant Afseth of NBA Analysis Network, the Cleveland Cavaliers could have trade interest in New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram. 

Ingram is entering the final year of his contract and there has been speculation that the Pelicans could trade the one-time All-Star this summer. 

“Among the potential trade targets that could be of interest is Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans, to provide another reliable scoring threat on the wing next to Donovan Mitchell, per various league sources,” Afseth wrote. “The Cavaliers struggled with receiving reliable wing scoring this season.”

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Pelicans this season while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He is eligible to sign an extension this offseason. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. Ingram averaged 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the series while shooting 34.5% from the floor, 25.0% from 3 and 89.5% from the foul line. 

Ingram, who began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Lakers and Pelicans. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award with New Orleans. 

The Pelicans acquired Ingram from the Lakers in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade. New Orleans is 144-143 with Ingram in the lineup with no playoff series wins. 

Along with the Cavaliers, Ingram has been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic. 

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games. Mitchell is eligible to sign an extension this summer.

If Mitchell becomes a free agent in 2025, he is eligible to sign for a max of five years and $269.9 million with the team that holds his Bird rights (the Cavaliers now) or four years, $200.1 million with a new team.