The chances of a Brandon Ingram trade to the Golden State Warriors have been outlined by Monte Poole of NBC Sports as “tiny” on Wednesday, but it appears the franchise isn’t the only one questioning the 2020 All-Star’s worth.
With few stars available on the trade market right now, the New Orleans Pelicans forward is perhaps the most sought-after name that could be had. There should be a plethora of teams interested in someone who can fit into the 20-5-5 on an everyday basis, right? Well, apparently not.
William Guillory of The Athletic reported Thursday that Ingram did not show up for a minicamp held by New Orleans Pelicans players last week, only increasing speculation about his future heading into the 2024-25 season.
Poole’s previous report suggested there was no consensus among Golden State executives on the value of trading Ingram, with the ill-fated deal for Kelly Oubre Jr. in 2020 providing a new perspective for the franchise when it comes to player valuations.
There are clear concerns about Ingram’s style at the Warriors, but the biggest restriction right now is arguably the 27-year-old’s contract situation. Earning $36 million on the final year of his deal, Ingram is currently eligible for an extension that could pay him more than $200 million.
“Given the way this offseason has gone, it’s pretty clear that the rest of the league doesn’t believe Ingram’s value is as high as they think,” Guillory wrote. “He’s one of the most talented forwards in the league, in the prime of his career, and he’s being treated like a guy nobody wants.”
The idea that no one wants Ingram is simple: Teams don’t want to be stuck in a situation where they offer him a potentially toxic contract or risk losing him for nothing as a free agent. Teams may be able to convince themselves to get Ingram if they give up minimal assets in a trade, but the Pelicans don’t appear to be at a point where they’re willing to give him up at a significant discount.
For a team like the Warriors, the combination of on-court fit and contract issues, along with the complexities of the trade, make Ingram far too risky a prospect. Let another franchise take on the challenge or, better yet, let the Pelicans ride the uncertainty and hope it manifests itself in a tough season for their Western Conference rival.