‘Blockbuster’ Trade Proposal Sends Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram To Kings

May 28, 2024

One NBA writer proposed that the Sacramento Kings acquire Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Kings and Pelicans:

Brandon Ingram for Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter and a 2027 first-round pick

Ingram is entering the final year of his contract.

The Pelicans could trade the swingman this offseason, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

“Still, he’d be closer to a third option with the Sacramento Kings, which means he’d probably face the opposition’s best perimeter defender less often than he has in New Orleans,” Bailey wrote. “And he’s a far better creator and distributor than either Harrison Barnes or Kevin Huerter.

“Losing the shooting of those two isn’t ideal, but having three playmakers with Ingram, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis would give Sacramento one of the league’s more unpredictable offenses.”

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.

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.

“For New Orleans, this deal is a bet on Williamson, who missed the playoffs with a hamstring injury but played a career-high 70 games in the regular season,” Bailey wrote. “It would be easier to tailor the offense around him with Barnes and Huerter, both of whom are more comfortable playing off the ball than Ingram.

“The maximized version of Zion (and the Zion-led Pelicans) needs to be surrounded by shooting. Let him create from the top and have his drives flanked by some combination of CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones (who improved to 41.8 percent from deep this season), Trey Murphy III, Barnes and Huerter.”

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.