Going back to the Brandon Ingram trade might sound like a broken record to some Raptors fans, but it's not every day that Toronto has the chance to add a star of Ingram's caliber. With that being said, it's easy to understand why many Raptors commentators (myself included) have a myriad of opinions and thoughts on the matter, both good and bad.
Recently, TSN's resident Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg, who has had a mixed opinion on the Ingram trade to Toronto, published an article titled "Relationship between Ingram and Raptors off to promising start," which shed a bit more light on how both sides came to be.
In the piece, Lewenberg would make a striking point, mentioning:
"In the team’s 30-year existence, Ingram will go down as the first all-star – or, in this case, former all-star – player to chart a course to Toronto in the prime of his career. Think about it. It had never happened before."Josh Lewenberg, February 12, 2025
Brandon Ingram's arrival is a game changer in Raptors star history
Rewinding to what I said at the beginning, this is exactly why the Ingram trade is so special in Raptors history: you have a guy who's arguably at his NBA peak, and he wants to be part of the Toronto franchise, no less. As a 24-year-old native of Toronto myself, I can speak to the melting pot of diversity and culture that embodies the city's spirit, but to the average NBA player, the Raptors might not be the most enticing destination.
I see this city for what it is, both the negatives and the positives, but I can understand why many are drawn away from crossing the border. Nevertheless, you have a gamer in Brandon Ingram who said, "Nah, I'm in," despite having the choice to go to Atlanta instead.
Lewenberg would go on to add in his article:
"Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and DeMar DeRozan were homegrown stars, drafted and developed by the club. Tracy McGrady was also a Raptors draft pick and left before hitting his prime. Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard were acquired via trade but Canada’s lone NBA team was far from their preferred destination at the time. Hakeem Olajuwon signed here when the eventual Hall of Fame centre was long past his prime."Josh Lewenberg
Although a good chunk of these guys would blossom into their roles in Toronto and grow to love the city through and through, Lewenberg raises a good point: they didn't really have a choice. That was the situation each star was dealt, and they could either make the most of it or be pouty and force their way out/not report (names like Alonzo Mourning and Goran Dragić come to mind).
Raptors added a committed star in Brandon Ingram
Raptors fans know that a true star, or even a fringe star, might come along only once in a blue moon. Right now, thankfully, the franchise has a solid building block in Scottie Barnes, but his mere presence is not enough.
For Toronto to succeed, they need to hit on their draft picks (Gradey Dick has been showing an upward trend), or hope one of their project players ends up panning out to become a critical piece for the future. The 2024 NBA Draft class was a great example of the Raptors' scouting team pinpointing quality talents, regardless of their draft position; they hit big on small gambles, so to speak.
Though Ingram was set to hit free agency in the offseason, he would need to make it clear to his new destination that a long-term deal was in play. There would be no point in a team giving up significant assets for a one-year rental (Ingram doesn't really fall into this category, seeing as he's injured), with the Kawhi Leonard trade being a huge benchmark that may not be replicated. BI was totally on board committing to Toronto, where he would later sign a team-friendly contract extension last week.
Ingram would speak to his delight of joining Toronto and the Raptors franchise in his introductory press conference on February 12, where he said:
"At the beginning of the year, every time the schedule comes out, the first team we mark is Toronto and I don’t think it’s ever for the team, it’s for the city... And also, I just felt that I needed a fresh start. A fresh start somewhere where guys played hard and they listened. I heard good things about Scottie [Barnes], I heard good things about [Immanuel] Quickley and I thought it was a good fit offensively and defensively. And Darko [Rajakovic] had a part in that too."Brandon Ingram
As I've discussed in many of the other articles related to Brandon Ingram, his arrival could lead to a whirlwind of scenarios. Lewenberg also touched upon similar topics in the referenced piece, but regardless of the "what-ifs" and "shoulda, coulda, woulda's," you have to commend BI for his love for the city even before stepping on the court in Raptors threads.
Even if the results don't meet the highest expectations, the Raptors have acquired a star of good spirits, and for team chemistry, those kinds of additions are always an A+.