NBA Trade Rumors: Exploring seven star players that the New Orleans Pelicans can attempt to trade Brandon Ingram for this offseason.
After being swept out of the NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New Orleans Pelicans could be heading into an offseason of change.
During his post-season press conference with reporters, Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin reiterated that the team intends to be aggressive in improving the roster this offseason. One way they can accomplish that is by retooling the roster around Zion Williamson, using Brandon Ingram (and picks) as trade bait. Ingram has one year remaining on his contract and there's no indication he wants to re-sign with the team or that the Pelicans want to pay him the max money that he's likely going to demand in any extension.
If the Pelicans are open to the idea of walking down this path, there are surely to be several star players for the team to pursue. As we inch closer and closer to the start of the NBA offseason, we explore seven star players that the Pelicans could try to trade Ingram (and pieces) for.
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
If the New Orleans Pelicans do explore trading Brandon Ingram, the Los Angeles Lakers could be a potnetial trade partner. They'll be looking for another All-Star caliber player to stick next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and there's one young piece on the roster that could be appealing to New Orleans. Austin Reaves could be a player the Pelicans could elect to target in a potential Ingram trade with the Lakers.
A package of Reaves, one of their other young players, and a future first-round draft pick may be enough for the Pelicans to pull the trigger.
Tyler Herro and Jamie Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat
Much like the situation that the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in, the Miami Heat are likely to be a team interested in a potential Brandon Ingram trade if the New Orleans Pelicans shop him during the offseason. Two players that could be of interest to the Pelicans are Tyler Herro and Jamie Jaquez Jr. Even though Herro has struggled in a leading role for the Heat, perhaps he could work by playing off of CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson in New Orleans. Plus, a fresh start could go a long way in helping him find the second wind of his career.
If this is a package that the Pelicans are willing to negotiate around, the addition of Jamie Jaquez Jr. could be something that ends up closing the deal. Drawing some comparisons to Jimmy Butler, the future is bright for Jaquez. Though he likely doesn't have much promise as a No. 1 or No. 2 option in the future, he could be a strong third or fourth option once he fully develops.
With Zion already in place, it's easy to see why the Pelicans could have an interest in Jaquez as they look to retool the roster this summer. A core of McCollum, Herro, Jaquez, Zion, and the rest of the Pelicans' strong supporting cast could prove to be a strong underdog in the West next season.
Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
If the Indiana Pacers emerge as a team that could express interest in Brandon Ingram this offseason, there is theoretically one player on the team that the New Orleans Pelicans should be interested in targeting. And that is Bennedict Mathurin. Even though his counting stats during his sophomore season weren't as impressive as his rookie year, the hype surrounding Mathurin should still be considered high. And as the Pacers look to pivot toward a win-now team, there's a chance that Mathurin could find himself on the outside looking in.
There's an expectation that the Pacers could be in the market for a two-way wing this summer as they attempt to look for a final piece of their championship puzzle. If that ends up being accurate, Brandon Ingram could make some sense for Indiana. A Mathurin for Ingram swap could have benefits for both sides. Ingram fits the timeline of winning now for the Pacers and Mathurin could continue to grow and develop alongside Zion Williamson and the rest of New Orleans' young core.
This seems like a deal that could make sense for both sides considering the priorities both the Pacers and Pelicans could have heading into the offseason.
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
There's one increasingly interesting scenario that could play out this offseason that involves the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans. In a scenario where Donovan Mitchell ends up signing an extension this offseason, you can't help but wonder if the Cavs would then look elsewhere to add another element to the roster that they currently don't have. One possibility involves Cleveland being open to trading a player like Darius Garland to the Pelicans in exchange for Brandon Ingram. If that is possible, the Pelicans should jump all over that idea.
The Pelicans retooling toward a duo centered around Garland and Zion Williamson heading into the future could be worth it in the long run. Even though the Pelicans would take a bit of a step back in the short term, Garland could end up taking another step forward in his individual development playing next to a big as dominant as Zion.
Again, all of this likely hinges on whether Mitchell ends up signing an extension with the team or not. If he does, the Pelicans should at least be willing to make a phone call to see what the asking price would be for Garland.
Jalen Green, Houston Rockets
Aside from the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, there may not be another team out there more desperate to make a big splash this summer via trade than the Houston Rockets. After taking a small step forward this season in the Western Conference standings, the hope is that the Rockets can take another big step via a splash acquisition this offseason. There have been whispers that the Rockets may be aggressive to the point this summer where they'd be open to trading one of their young stars - Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun.
Considering Sengun is the player Houston has to be sold on the most this summer, Green is the star target that the New Orleans Pelicans could have their eye on in any swap with the Rockets. There's a chance that acquiring Brandon Ingram could emerge as one of the most realistic splash moves for Houston this summer.
The Rockets may believe that a trio of Fred VanVleet, Ingram, and Sengun can compete in the Western Conference. The Pelicans could also like the idea of adding Green next to Zion Williamson moving forward.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Both the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans are at least open to the idea of trading one of their stars. Perhaps the two teams could look to each other to solve their issues. The Pelicans should be interested in a package that includes Trae Young back from the Hawks, even if New Orleans would have to send Brandon Ingram, picks, and/or young players. Can you imagine how dominant Zion Williamson could be with an elite playmaking guard leading the charge on the offensive end?
With all due respect to CJ McCollum, who has been wonderful for the Pelicans for the past two and a half seasons, Young is on a completely different level as an offensive playmaker. Arguably one of the most underrated playmakers in the league, Young would completely revamp the way the Pelicans play offense.
On the other end, the Hawks would get to retool their roster around Dejounte Murray, Ingram, and the rest of the young core that they already have in place. Atlanta would likely have to be sold on this possibility, but there's no question the Pelicans should 100 percent be open to such a swap.