Brandon Ingram’s time in the Big Easy is over.
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading the forward to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick and a second-round pick, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Ingram was originally drafted second overall by the Lakers in 2016 but was dealt after three seasons in the deal that landed Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. The now 27-year-old blossomed in New Orleans, winning Most Improved Player in his first year with the Pelicans (2019-20) while also earning his first All-Star nod.
The former Duke product has been a consistent 20-plus point-per-game scorer through his six years in New Orleans and can comfortably space the floor with a career three-point shooting mark of 36.3 per cent.
Ingram’s biggest concern throughout his near-decade-long career has been staying healthy enough to be on the floor. After playing 79 games as a rookie, he’s failed to suit up for more than 64 games in a season and hasn’t reached at least 60 in two of the last three years.
He’s on pace to fall short of that number yet again as he’s battled multiple injuries throughout the 2024-25 campaign — notably, missing 26 consecutive games with an ankle injury. In the 18 games he has played, Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 37.4 per cent from deep.
The six-foot-eight forward now gets set to join the third team of his career in the midst of a contract year. Ingram is in the final season of a five-year, $158 million deal. He’s owed $36 million in 2024-25 before he hits unrestricted free agency in the summer.
More to come.
