Report: Pelicans Could Trade Brandon Ingram This Week

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the New Orleans Pelicans could trade Brandon Ingram this week. 

Ingram is in the final year of his contract. 

“A prominent former All-Star considered more likely to be dealt this week with the draft and free agency converging: New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram,” Stein wrote. “It was roughly six weeks ago, back on May 12, that I wrote about a growing belief leaguewide that New Orleans would seriously explore the trade market for Ingram before next season. Anticipation that Ingram will soon be on the move has only swelled some six weeks later.”

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans 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 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. 

Ingram has been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers in trade rumors. 

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cleveland Cavaliers are not “enthralled” with the idea of trading for Ingram.

“There’s been some chatter about whether Cleveland would have interest in Brandon Ingram, but I’ve gotten the sense from talking to league sources that Cleveland isn’t enthralled with the idea of trading for him and then having to pay him a ton of money after his contract season,” Scotto reported. “I’m quite confident that New Orleans looks at Darius Garland and values him if they were going to part with Ingram, but I’m not sure that would be a fit (for Cleveland) based on the intel I have.”

The Pelicans acquired Ingram from the Lakers in 2019. New Orleans hasn’t won a playoff series with Ingram.