One of the biggest topics in the NBA heading into the 2024-25 regular season is the future of The New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.
Ingram has been involved in numerous trade rumors this summer as he and the team failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension. The second overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft is reportedly seeking a max contract, which the Pelicans aren’t planning on giving him.
His future became even more uncertain when he failed to show up for the voluntary mini-camp held last week. He was expected to attend, but he didn’t.
The only other player who did not participate was Daniel Theis, who played this summer for Germany at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
In years past, Ingram would organize these kinds of events for his teammates.
Currently, the market for the former All-Star is virtually non-existent. Teams around the league view him the same way Zach LaVine did The Chicago Bulls.
Ingram doesn’t have the same injury issues as LaVine, but he’s viewed as a high-scoring All-Star who doesn’t make much of a difference when it comes to winning games. He may not see himself that way, but that’s where the market seems to have priced him.
However, several teams have recently been suggested as landing spots for him. One of the teams mentioned was the San Antonio Spurs.
What might a trade between New Orleans and the Spurs for Ingram look like? Financially, it would be fairly simple to match salaries. Determining draft compensation, if any, would be more difficult.
One trade idea that could interest both teams is center Zach Collins and forward Keldon Johnson headed to the Pelicans, along with a protected top-14 first-round pick in 2025 via the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Ingram.
For San Antonio, Ingram’s integration into their roster isn’t perfect. They’ve made it clear that Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama are the players they want to build their game around and the former All-Star could be a detriment to them.
But if any team can exploit Ingram’s two-way potential, it’s them. At the very least, having someone on the roster who has averaged at least 20.8 points per game in five straight seasons will take some of the pressure off Wembanyama.
New Orleans has addressed its dire need at center. Collins’ role was significantly reduced last season once San Antonio decided to use the French phenom as its starting center, but he would be a perfect fit in Willie Green’s rotation.
The Gonzaga product is capable of doing a little bit of everything on the court. He can be a playmaker and stretch the floor a bit on offense while also providing some toughness and basket protection on defense.
Johnson plays the same position as Ingram, which could leave a logjam. But he would come off the bench, opening the way for Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones to start, alongside Dejounte Murray and Zion Williamson.
With a large number of draft picks, the Spurs can afford to shed a protected pick in this deal to improve the package for the salary cap-conscious Pelicans, who are in it for the long haul.