According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are potential trade suitors for New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram.
The Pelicans are expected to aggressively explore the trade market for Ingram this summer.
“Sure to be a popular topic in Chicago this coming week as front office executives, scouts, coaches and agents gather for the usual pre-draft frenzy of on-court drills, measurements, scrimmaging and interviews with prospective draftees: A growing belief leaguewide that Pelicans will aggressively explore the trade market for Brandon Ingram before next season,” Stein wrote. “Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin has all but promised that New Orleans will be active in the marketplace in the wake of a first-round sweep inflicted by the Thunder and league sources say that Ingram’s exit is increasingly viewed by various league observers as an inevitability rather than possibility.
“Fit concerns about the games of Ingram, CJ McCollum and star forward Zion Williamson persist in New Orleans despite the Pelicans’ 49-33 record this season. A handful of Eastern Conference teams (Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta and Orlando) have already been mentioned as potential trade suitors for Ingram.”
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 is entering the final year of his contract.
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.
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