Toronto fans did not get the chance to see Brandon Ingram in Raptors colors this past season, as the 27-year-old spent the year sidelined recovering from an ankle injury he sustained while with the Pelicans.
NBA insider Brian Windhorst cheekily dubbed it the "worst sprained ankle in history." For honest Raptors fans, it’s likely they believe Ingram sat out intentionally to let Toronto’s chances slip, aiming to improve their lottery odds — a strategy that ultimately did not pay off.
Regarding the Ingram deal, the Raptors first needed to build a core of assets, beginning with Pascal Siakam, who has since become an important piece for the Finals-bound Indiana Pacers. Masai Ujiri flipped Siakam into Bruce Brown and other assets — initially a move that didn’t seem particularly attractive on the surface.
This sequence eventually led to the acquisition of Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, additional draft picks, and ultimately, the Raptors secured a former Most Improved Player and one-time All-Star. If you want to dive into the full details of the Pascal Siakam trade, check out our comprehensive rundown previously covered here on Raptors Rapture.
I recall many Raptors fans feeling puzzled, especially now with Siakam's rising stardom for Indiana, and questioning whether their ultimate move to acquire Brandon Ingram was worth it given how impactful Cameroonian forward has become for a win-now team.
To be fair, hindsight is always 20/20, and it’s easy to look at Siakam’s current success and wonder if he could have replicated that in Toronto had he stayed. But let’s not get it twisted — the crowded wing spots Toronto faces now weren’t any clearer with Anunoby, Siakam, and Barnes leading the way.
Anunoby and Siakam were both heading for significant new contracts, earning the big paydays they deserved from New York and Indiana. At the time in Toronto, locking in substantial money for a core that didn’t yet show strong championship promise didn’t seem like the smartest move.
Unfortunately, the Raptors still ended up trading Siakam for arguably less than they could have received if they had made a different decision earlier.
While Brandon Ingram is a talented player who will undoubtedly give his best in a Raptors jersey, recent developments suggest he could also be on the market if Masai Ujiri decides to go all-in on pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A blockbuster move could define Masai Ujiri's trade handling legacy
If that is indeed the case, then considering all the moves and the starting point, the Siakam trade could ultimately be seen as the first chapter in the story that led to the "Greek Freak" heading to Toronto.
Looking back, it would be a complete 180-degree turn of events, especially considering Ujiri's long-standing admiration for Antetokounmpo's talent and his belief in him since his early days. A true full-circle moment, if you ask me.
That, without a doubt, is the most enticing scenario to emerge from the Siakam trade story. For a savvy executive like Masai Ujiri, it could serve as the ultimate testament to his skill in navigating basketball transactions — even if, initially, the first steps to get there might not seem like the most favorable outcome.