The New Orleans Pelicans enter the All-Star break 11 games above .500 and sixth place in a loaded Western Conference. On the surface, the season has been a complete success. Zion Williamson is healthy (44 of 55 possible games played) and the supporting cast is starting to gel. New Orleans is within striking distance of home-court advantage in the playoffs — what more could fans realistically ask for?
That said, one peek inside the hood reveals the potential for catastrophe. According to the latest report from The Ringer's Howard Beck, NBA front offices are anticipating a lot of player movement this offseason. Several high-profile trade candidates were floated by league execs — including Brandon Ingram or Zion Williamson.
"'New Orleans has to make a decision between Zion [Williamson] and [Brandon] Ingram,” said an Eastern Conference exec. “I think that happens this summer'"
Why the Pelicans need to "make a decision" between Zion and Ingram is unclear, but this line of thinking has been prevalent in league circles for a while. Before the season, we heard plenty of chatter about the Pelicans' dissatisfaction with Williamson's work ethic. At the end of the day, Zion is a unique star, and he requires unique concessions on the roster-building front. If the Pelicans ultimately believe Williamson is the engine that will power them into the future — and, let's be frank, he is their best player — Ingram is very much at risk of being involuntarily relocated via trade.
The contract situations are noteworthy here. Williamson is under contract through 2027-28. Ingram, on the other hand, becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2025. That could pressure the Pelicans to get a deal done before he has the option to bolt in free agency.
Ingram has been excellent this season, averaging 21.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on .490/.362/.794 splits in 33.4 minutes. Here are a few viable destinations, should Ingram become legitimately available.
5. Kings can finally land upgrade on the wing with Brandon Ingram
The Sacramento Kings have been mentioned in every trade rumor involving a quality wing for the last two seasons. Kyle Kuzma, Tobias Harris, Bojan Bogdanovic — all have been floated as Sacramento targets at one point or another. Still, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter form the bedrock of the Kings' wing rotation. That's not bad at all, but the Kings' next step toward contention could be landing an All-Star wing to complement De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Ingram's versatile skill set fits into virtually any situation on paper. He's not the best 3-point shooter, and his decrease in volume (3.9 attempts compared to his career-high of 6.2 in 2019-20) is a concern, but Ingram can still stretch the floor and operate effectively as a secondary creator. The Kings have the best passing big man outside of Denver in Sabonis, as well as a constant source of rim pressure in Fox. Ingram would be well positioned for clean catches on the perimeter and advantageous two-man actions that allow him to get downhill and locate a defense's pressure points.
Malik Monk has assumed a more significant playmaking burden this season, but the Kings' backup point guard situation leaves much to be desired. Fox carries a heavy workload and there are other avenues to creation with Sabonis and Monk, so it's not a crippling weakness. But, Ingram can create out of pick-and-rolls and operate as the de facto point guard when needed. He can lead second-unit groups when Fox and/or Sabonis hit the bench.
Sacramento can trade three first-round picks this offseason, in addition to whatever swaps and young talent are needed to hold the Pelicans' attention. Ingram won't come cheap at 26 years old, but his expiring contract will leave some buyers weary. That could be the perfect environment for Sacramento to move in and strike.
4. Magic can go all-in on tall creators with Brandon Ingram trade
Quietly, the Orlando Magic are positioned as well as any team to land an All-Star via trade. It's a bit naive to expect the LeBron James or Paul George tier of free agent to consider Orlando, but Ingram as a trade target makes perfect sense. He is within Orlando's price range, both in terms of trade ammo and financially. The Magic won't have to pay Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for a couple years. Markelle Fultz is off the books in the offseason. So is Jonathan Isaac. The eventual Ingram extension should be no problem.
It's an enticing fit on paper. The Magic are the torchbearers for the modern NBA philosophy — the intersection of size and skill is paramount. Their primary creators are essentially two 6-foot-10 wings. Why not toss one more in the mix? Ingram gives Orlando another much-needed source of halfcourt playmaking without compromising the Magic's unique size advantage.
Let's lay out the hypothetical starting five — Wendell Carter, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Brandon Ingram, Jalen Suggs. That team is a top-five defense, with the ability to switch at every position and enough length to rival Minnesota. On offense, the Magic can mismatch hunt relentlessly while building their scheme around three productive slashers. Banchero, Ingram, and Wagner can all create advantages on the perimeter. Carter and Suggs are high-feel connectors and bankable spacers. The Magic go from a fun story and a play-in team to a legitimate power in the East.
Ingram gets to go to the weaker conference too, as an added bonus. The Magic need to prioritize high-leverage shooters elsewhere on the roster, but essentially replacing the Fultz and Isaac minutes with Ingram already goes a long way toward addressing that problem. It's easily one of the more fun Ingram spots conceptually.
3. 76ers can land third star in Brandon Ingram
The Philadelphia 76ers will enter the offseason with roughly $60 million in available cap space and two genuine stars on the roster in Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. The James Harden trade hasn't tanked Philadelphia's title odds, but with Embiid's health in limbo and the Sixers' second unit dealing with more injuries, the Sixers probably want another star. That has been the driving force behind all of Daryl Morey's decisions to date.
Maxey's efficiency has dipped lately and it's clear the Sixers need another source of halfcourt creation to fully unlock Nick Nurse's offense. The on-ball strides from Maxey have been pronounced, but he's at his best launching deep 3s off the catch and slicing rotating defenses apart with his blistering first step. When defenses can load up against Maxey and force him into tough shots — especially in the non-Embiid minutes — it's a problem.
Ingram would help the Sixers quite a bit on that front. He can create out of pick-and-rolls and offer Philadelphia another source of advantage creation on the wing. At 6-foot-9, Ingram is comfortable in challenging spots on defense. He has the mobility to guard up a position and the length to bottle up even stronger forwards. So, for a team built around a face-up scoring center and a speedy (but small) catch-and-attack guard, Ingram is the ideal fit.
Morey will explore all his options in the offseason. Philadelphia has been loosely connected to Paul George, but let's assume that is little more than wishful thinking. The other star trade candidates around the league — Trae Young, Zion, Donovan Mitchell — aren't exactly clean fits with this Sixers roster. There's a chance Ingram is the best-case scenario outcome for Philadelphia's much-maligned and wearily anticipated summer of cap space.
2. Lakers reunite with Brandon Ingram to placate LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers want Trae Young, that much is clear. But Young will have other suitors, and the Lakers run the risk of getting outbid. In that event, Los Angeles will have to turn to a slightly more affordable star to stave off LeBron James' temptation to leave for a more competitive unit. Why not a reunion with Brandon Ingram, who facilitated Anthony Davis' arrival once upon a time?
Ingram never found his stride until arriving in New Orleans, but he is a different player than the one who left L.A. all those years ago. There's reason to believe Ingram would fit just fine next to James and Davis as the Lakers' bonafide third star — a secondary creator and connective force on the wing that can splash 3s, attack the mid-range, and defend multiple positions.
Los Angeles' rotation has been a mess all season. The wings especially. Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, and Rui Hachimura have all disappointed on some level. Ingram can make Darvin Ham's life easier and minimize the Lakers' unforced errors on the lineup front. Davis, James, Ingram, and Austin Reaves is a solid four. Whether it's D'Angelo Russell or another wing, the Lakers wouldn't need to worry about the starting five producing.
He probably doesn't rise to the level of expectation in Los Angeles' (at times delusional) fanbase, but adding Ingram over the summer would qualify as a huge victory for the Lakers. He can complement the core without taking too much away from LeBron. Trae Young is great, too, but James would be moved entirely off-ball in that setup. Ingram is a more natural fit.
1. Warriors can land Brandon Ingram to mount one last run
The Golden State Warriors are on the prowl for a star wing. We can safely assume LeBron James, Kevin Durant, or Paul George won't actually happen (right?). A Pelicans deal feels much more likely. Whether it's Zion or Ingram, Golden State should be attuned to the Pelicans' standing in the West and the vibes around the franchise. If opportunity arises, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office should strike.
Ingram presumably absorbs the Andrew Wiggins minutes in Golden State. In fact, Wiggins probably gets rerouted to New Orleans as part of the deal. The magnitude of that upgrade is difficult to overstate. The Warriors' halfcourt offense has improved in recent weeks, but there is still a struggle to consistently space the floor and execute Steve Kerr's scheme. Jonathan Kuminga is a violent downhill slasher, but he doesn't take a ton of 3s or make advanced decisions on-ball. Draymond Green can't shoot. Brandin Podziemski and Klay Thompson can shoot, but neither offers consistent self-creation.
Ingram can help tie the offense together. He can create off drives and work pick-and-roll actions while Curry flies around screens and stresses defenses with his movement. The flip side is also true — Ingram can space to the perimeter and stoke fear in defenses with his ability to beat slow rotations and exploit cracks in coverage as a slasher. Send too much help Curry's way, and Ingram will feast.
The Warriors need to consider the implications of Ingram's eventual extension, but he's the right "young" star to bridge the gap between the Curry era and the future. At 26 years old, Ingram has a ton of prime basketball left in the tank. He increases Golden State's immediate title odds, but he also gives them a legitimate building block once Curry decides to hang 'em up.