NBA Trade Rumors: Exploring five winning organizations that could end up taking a gamble on Brandon Ingram via trade.
As we inch closer to the NBA Trade Deadline, the speculation is naturally going to grow surrounding a few potential big names that could be on the move. One of the bigger names that could possibly be on the move is Brandon Ingram. In the final year of his contract, Ingram is either going to agree to an extension or explore other options either in free agency or trade. However, if it becomes clear that Ingram and the Pelicans aren't close to a contract extension, a trade is a route that will make the most sense for both sides.
Even though it could be complicated for one to come to fruition at the trade deadline, there could be a strong market for an offensively talented wing. In fact, there are a few contenders that should theoretically be interested. Considering that it's already been reported that Ingram desires to play for a winning organization, there could be a natural match made ahead of the trade deadline. As trade deadline season quickly approaches, we explore five winning situations that could benefit most from taking a gamble on Ingram
Oklahoma City Thunder
Even with the loss of Chet Holmgren due to injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder have remained fairly competitive in the Western Conference. They're still sitting atop the Western Conference standings but could very much use a mid-season trade to fully embrace their status as a contender. The addition of Brandon Ingram could legitimize this team down the stretch and could help atone for the loss of Holmgren. Even though there's hope that he will be back before the end of the season, that's far from a certainty.
What a trade may look like: Because of the team's financial flexibility, the Thunder could put together a trade package that would work financially fairly easily. In theory, the Thunder could couple Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe in a package to offer the Pelicans in exchange for Ingram. If the trade demand isn't high, it's probably a deal that the Pelicans would accept. Both Dort and Joe could be useful players for the Pelicans in the long run.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Through the first quarter of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been the best and most consistent team in the Eastern Conference. At this point in the season, I'm not sure there are many who believed there was a team that would be able to not only keep pace with the Celtics but outplay them at any point this season. Nevertheless, that's exactly what the Cavs have been able to do through the first quarter of the season. But even after their strong start to the season, it would be foolish for the Cavs to sit on their laps.
Heading into the NBA Trade Deadline season, I wouldn't expect the Cavs to make a big move but the option could be on the table if they wanted. Especially if the asking price isn't great for a player like Brandon Ingram, who could be an ideal fit next to this core. Ingram would be a strong wing option that (depending on who you ask), could be considered the biggest weakness on the roster. Ingram could be a natural fit in the starting 5 and one of the best second or third options on the offensive end of the floor.
What a trade may look like: The likelihood of a potential trade between the Cavs and Pelicans will come down to the asking price. However, for the right price, there is a path toward a deal getting done. From a financial perspective, the contracts of Max Strus and Caris LeVert should work. Whether that's a package the Pelicans would be interested in is an entirely different conversation. But it could be a starting point in any trade discussions between the two sides. Where the Cavs could run into issues is their lack of young talent and/or draft capital that they could include to add value to the offer.
The Cavs have a plethora of second-round picks they could include in the offer but only one future first-round pick that they could use in a deal. That may end up eliminating the Cavs as a potential option for Ingram but they should absolutely put in a call if the Pelicans genuinely shop him ahead of the trade deadline. If the Cavs were to theoretically pull off a deal for Ingram, it would put them on the same talent level as the Celtics and they could potentially unseat them as the favorite in the Eastern Conference.
Houston Rockets
Twenty-two games into the regular season, the Houston Rockets have been one of the more pleasant surprises in the Western Conference. They're 15-7 and have been the second-best or most consistent team in the West so far this season. But even with their early success, the argument can still be made that this team remains a couple of moves away from emerging as a true contender in the conference. Even if the Rockets finish as a top 4 seed in the West, it's going to be difficult to trust this team when the NBA Playoffs roll around.
Of course, that's unless they're able to make a bold move at the NBA Trade Deadline. If the Rockets are able to make a splash trade for a veteran star, all of that could change. And targeting a player like Brandon Ingram could make sense for a franchise that is beginning to turn the corner on their previous struggles. If the Rockets wanted to solidify themselves as a contender in the Western Conference, making a move for Ingram leading up to the trade deadline would make a whole lot of sense.
What a trade may look like: Considering the amount of young talent that the Rockets have on their roster, this is a deal that could seemingly come together for both sides. Houston's biggest issue would revolve around finding the salary to match what Ingram is making this season, but there are several paths toward making a deal work. The Rockets could use the expiring contracts of Jeff Green and Steven Adams to get close to the figure they need from a financial perspective and then include a young player or two to get the deal done.
No matter what the Pelicans would be looking for in terms of compensation, there's a good chance that the Rockets would be able to meet the demands. If the Rockets wanted to make a big splash and potentially skip another couple of steps, Ingram is the type of trade target that would make sense leading up to the deadline. Even though it may not seem that way on the surface, he's certainly the type of player who can alter the ceiling for the Rockets in the long run.
Miami Heat
The win-loss record doesn't tell the entire story for the Miami Heat so far this season but this is a team that has left much to be desired. And what's all the more disappointing for the Heat so far this year is the fact that nearly everyone could see it coming - except the front office, it seems. Jimmy Butler is no longer a player who can carry a team over the course of the regular season and Bam Adebayo has taken a huge step back in his overall offensive progression. Tyler Herro is played quite well but there's only so much he can do with Jimmy and Bam both off their games.
The trade for Terry Rozier, which took place at last year's NBA Trade Deadline, looks like a bigger mistake with every passing day, and without much trade assets at their disposal, it's hard to envision how this team is going to tangibly improve anytime soon. However, Brandon Ingram did say he wants to play for a winning organization and, despite their struggles this year, that's exactly what the Heat have been described as in the past. Could the Heat figure out a way to make a deal work if they truly wanted to take the gamble on Ingram? Perhaps.
What a trade may look like: In theory, the Heat could trade Terry Rozier or Duncan Robinson to get halfway toward the financial number that they'd have to get to. They could then use one of their limited future first-round picks or young players (perhaps Jaime Jaquez Jr. and/or Kel'el Ware) to add even more incentive for the New Orleans Pelicans to make a deal. It may not be the most attractive of trade offers but depending on how Ingram's market develops, it could be an offer that the Pelicans may have to consider.
And if there's any team in the league that will be able to get the most out of Ingram, it's probably going to be a team like the Heat. To be quite honest, I'm not sure how much Ingram would change the outlook for Miami but there's no question that they would greatly benefit from having such a talented offensive player on the roster. Nothing has seemingly come easy for the team on that end of the floor so far this season. Ingram is far from a perfect player but he's one of the smoothest offensive players in the league. Miami would certainly benefit from having that type of player on their roster.
Golden State Warriors
Having lost five straight games and six of their last eight overall, the Golden State Warriors are in the midst of some early-season turmoil. Their hot start to the year has almost entirely been forgotten and this is a team that could be approaching the NBA Trade Deadline with a level of desperation. If the Warriors want to maximize their chances of emerging as a dark horse contender in the Western Conference, they're almost certainly going to have to make a splash move at the NBA Trade Deadline. Perhaps targeting an offensive talent like Brandon Ingram could be part of their solution.
On paper, there's no question that Ingram would be a natural fit for the Warriors. They could certainly use his consistent effort on the offensive end of the floor. The Warriors have an elite defense and need to get their offense there if they're going to have any shot at making some noise in the playoffs. Ingram would be a huge upgrade for the team on the wing, especially considering Andrew Wiggins has struggled with consistency each of the last few years. Like many other contenders, a path toward a deal that would make sense for both sides could be complicated.
What a trade may look like: From a financial perspective, any deal would likely have to start with Andrew Wiggins. After that, the Warriors could get creative. Depending on what the New Orleans Pelicans would want in exchange, the Warriors could look to add a young player or two or even some draft capital to make the offer more appealing. As is the case for every offer, how much each team would have to give up will come down to just how strong a market there is going to be for Ingram as we inch closer to the NBA Trade Deadline. In theory, the Warriors do have a path toward getting a deal done.
The big question for the franchise is whether the addition of Ingram alone would be enough to catapult the Warriors toward contender status in the Western Conference. And to be perfectly honest, that's a difficult question to answer. That could be the only concern for this front office. Do they want to empty out their asset chest on Ingram without the guarantee that he can help lead them to another championship? Especially considering that they'll probably have to also sign him to a hefty free-agent deal after the season.