Brandon Ingram Joins Raptors – A New Beginning or Just a Stopgap?
Alright, let’s talk about this Brandon Ingram trade because it’s got some real implications for both the Raptors and the Pelicans. The NBA trade deadline is heating up, and now, another All-Star is on the move. Ingram, who has been with the Pelicans for six years, is heading to Toronto in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick. This move officially ends the experiment of pairing Ingram with Zion Williamson in New Orleans. But what does this really mean for both teams? Let’s break it down.
For the Raptors, this is an interesting swing. Ingram is a talented scorer—when he’s at his best, he can take over games with his mid-range shooting and playmaking. But consistency has always been his issue. At times, he’s shown flashes of brilliance as a two-way player, yet he hasn’t been able to sustain it over long stretches. His three-point shooting has been up and down, and he’s dealt with injuries, including a sprained ankle that’s kept him out for the past two months.
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Toronto, currently sitting near the bottom of the East, needed a player who could create his own shot in clutch moments. They rank 23rd in the NBA in late-game offense, so adding someone like Ingram makes sense from that perspective. But here’s the catch—Ingram is heading into free agency this summer, and re-signing him won’t be cheap. The Raptors do hold his Bird Rights, which gives them leverage in negotiations, but if they don’t lock him in on a reasonable deal, they risk losing him for nothing.
Now, let’s flip over to the Pelicans. They knew the Ingram-Williamson pairing wasn’t working. Zion is at his best when he’s the offensive hub, and Ingram’s playstyle just didn’t complement that. Rather than risk losing Ingram in free agency for nothing, they cashed in now—though the return isn’t exactly thrilling. Brown is a solid role player, Olynyk is a veteran big with shooting ability, and the draft picks aren’t game-changers. This feels more like a necessary move rather than a franchise-altering decision.
So, who won the trade? Honestly, it’s not a home run for either side. The Raptors didn’t have to give up a major first-round pick, which is a win, but they’re still lacking a true superstar. For the Pelicans, moving on from Ingram clears space for young players like Trey Murphy III to grow, but they didn’t get a huge haul in return.
In the short term, Toronto gets an offensive upgrade, but the long-term vision is unclear. If Ingram flourishes and re-signs at the right price, this could work out. If not, it might just be another move in a long line of roster changes without a clear direction. The NBA trade deadline never disappoints, and this deal is another example of teams taking calculated risks. Now, we wait to see how it all plays out on the court.
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