The New Orleans Pelicans' early postseason exit raises questions about how star Brandon Ingram fits in their future plans and whether he’s the desired second option behind Zion Williamson.
It's also worth noting that NBA executives believe Ingram is "the most likely player to be traded" this offseason, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.
Ingram is under contract for the 2024-25 season (making roughly $36 million), but then he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. The Pelicans are not expected to offer Ingram a contract extension this offseason. While Ingram is eligible to sign a four-year, $208 million deal this summer, the Pelicans are not expected to make an offer, according to Evan Sidery.
The Pelicans are not expected to offer Brandon Ingram a contract extension this offseason.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 4, 2024
Ingram is eligible to sign a four-year, $208 million deal, but New Orleans will be going in another direction.
Trey Murphy III is also eligible for a rookie-scale extension expected to… pic.twitter.com/5fVrtFkTQK
The Pelicans are expected to extend forward Trey Murphy III instead, paying him in the ballpark of $25 million annually. At 23 years old, Murphy is significantly younger than Ingram, who is 26.
Ingram's production dropped off in the playoffs, as he averaged just 14.3 points per game on 34.5% shooting from the field during the Pelicans' first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the regular season, he averaged 20.8 points per game on 49.2% shooting from the field.
With his time in New Orleans potentially nearing an end, here’s a look at the top three trade destinations for Ingram:
1. Philadelphia 76ers
It’s no secret that the Sixers are in the market for a star forward to pair alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, with Paul George at the top of the list. However, Ingram would be a nice fallback option if they’re unable to acquire George in free agency.
The Sixers' decision to sign Tobias Harris over Jimmy Butler in 2019 has haunted them, and it seems very unlikely that Harris returns since he's also hitting the open market this summer. Harris scored 0 points in 29 minutes of action in their elimination game against the New York Knicks in the first round.
The Sixers aren’t far from evolving into a serious championship contender, with their main weakness coming on the offensive end. Outside of Embiid and Maxey, there are no reliable scorers who perform on a night-to-night basis. Kelly Oubre Jr. was a nice addition last offseason, but relying on him as their third-scoring option is worrying. Ingram could fill the void as a true No. 3 option, averaging more than 20 points in five consecutive seasons. Ingram's struggles in the playoffs are a concern, but less would be asked of him when paired with Embiid and Maxey, who battled with the No. 2-seed Knicks in an intense six-game series.
2. Portland Trail Blazers
An underwhelming rookie campaign from Scoot Henderson should motivate general manager Joe Cronin to improve the talent around him. It’s no secret that Cronin seemingly made the wrong choice by sending their former face of the franchise, Damian Lillard, to the Milwaukee Bucks instead of the Miami Heat. Their return was former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, Malcolm Brogdon, and draft capital, while the Heat were reportedly willing to part ways with Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and multiple first-round picks. None of Portland’s new pieces panned out as hoped, as Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant led the team in scoring with 22.6 and 21 points, respectively.
While Ingram is not the best fit for their roster, the Blazers are a bit desperate for star-level talent. His averages would essentially match those of Grant on the offensive end, but an increased role could see a spike in his stats. Trading for Ingram this summer means a one-year rental of the star unless an extension is worked out ahead of time. A similar situation is taking place with Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers. The hope for Portland would be that Ingram believes in their future and agrees to sign a lucrative multi-year extension.
3. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are at a crossroads of whether to continue their hopes of contending for an NBA championship or begin a roster-sweeping rebuild. If the front office chooses the route of contention, finding additional star power next to Stephen Curry is a must. Andrew Wiggins appeared as the in-house option over the last three seasons, but he crumbled in 2024, averaging 13.2 points. Not to mention, the futures of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in Golden State are up in the air.
KEEP READING: 5 potential free-agency landing spots for Klay Thompson
Ingram's style of play has changed in recent years, as he attempts significantly fewer 3s now (3.8) than during his Most-Improved-Player season (6.2). It hasn’t been a beneficial switch, as his scoring has dropped by multiple points. However, playing with Curry would certainly lead to open looks.
Golden State's front office has plenty of young players to make a trade happen, including Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
