The Toronto Raptors have officially acquired forward Brandon Ingram in an NBA trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team confirmed in a press release.
“We see Brandon as an integral part of this team’s future — he’s an elite scorer, he has a really diverse offensive skillset, and adding him to the young core we have is huge as we continue our quest to win in Toronto,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in a statement.
“At the same time we welcome Brandon, we need to really thank (Bruce Brown) and (Kelly Olynyk). They have been professionals and leaders and they’ve been great teammates and examples for all of us. We wish them all the best moving forward.”
The trade, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, sends Ingram to Toronto in exchange for Brown, Olynyk, a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected), and a 2031 second-round pick. The first-round pick originally belonged to the Indiana Pacers.
While the deal is significant for Toronto’s future, Ingram’s addition comes with some challenges. The 27-year-old forward has been sidelined since December 7 with an ankle injury and has not been cleared for contact.
Ingram may not return to action for several more weeks, but this is less of a concern for the Raptors, who are currently out of the NBA playoff race.
When healthy, Ingram has averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 18 games this season.
The Raptors hope to extend Ingram’s contract, with the forward eligible for an extension worth up to $144 million over three years through June 30, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Ingram’s current contract includes a 15% trade kicker, which increases his cap hit for the season from $36 million to $38.1 million.
Ingram’s arrival in Toronto is part of a broader strategy to build a strong long-term core alongside young players like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley.
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