NBA Analyst Says Cavaliers Would Be ‘Worst Landing Spot’ For Brandon Ingram

One NBA analyst believes the Cleveland Cavaliers would be the “worst landing spot” for Brandon Ingram. 

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report doesn’t believe the Cavaliers should acquire Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans. 

“The Cavaliers possibility has floated around the internet for much of the summer, and it’s not hard to see why,” Bailey wrote. “The Cavs are currently starting two centers in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen (barring some dramatic development from Mobley), and the New Orleans Pelicans need a center more than any other team in the league. If the season started today, they might have to start Zion Williamson there.

“Allen would make plenty of sense at the 5 for the Pelicans, but it’s kind of hard to see Ingram’s usefulness for Cleveland. As a pure talent play, he doesn’t make much more of an impact than Allen (if he does at all). And his need to have the ball to score or create might make him clash with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. There’s already tons of usage tied up in those two, and Mobley’s development might require some more too.”

Ingram is one of the most talented scorers in the NBA. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans last season while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

A one-time All-Star, Ingram will make $36 million next season in the final year of his contract. The forward 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.

Ingram won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. However, the Pelicans haven’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since acquiring Ingram from the Lakers in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade. 

The Cavaliers, who lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs in five games, are committed to their core at the moment.