When the Toronto Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram back in February, the move did not suggest an immediate shift toward championship contention, but it did open the door for a new identity. Now, as the team prepares to enter a full season with Ingram in the fold, the path forward should be simple: turn him loose. Let the veteran wing be a high-usage scorer, lean into his strengths, and let his shot-making dictate the offensive tone. There is no need to complicate things. Toronto should simply let Ingram cook, and see just how far that formula can carry this roster.
Ingram is no stranger to high-volume scoring. During his years in New Orleans, he proved himself capable of averaging over 24 points per game while operating as one of his team's primary options offensively. Ingram's mid-range game remains one of the more polished in the league, and he has a solid enough handle to create space even when defenders are keyed in. While his tenure with the Pelicans was often interrupted by injuries and inconsistent team results, the talent itself was never in question.
That is why this Raptors team, which is currently caught between developmental years and any real postseason aspirations, ought to embrace Ingram’s veteran shot creation without hesitation. With Scottie Barnes emerging as a playmaker and facilitator, Ingram should have ample opportunity to operate off-ball, isolate when necessary, and take advantage of favorable matchups. There is no clear-cut offensive hierarchy right now, and that is exactly why Ingram should be given the green light.
Let Brandon Ingram do what he does offensively
Trying to turn him into a low-usage cog in some equal-opportunity machine would only stifle what he does best. This is not a roster built around pace-and-space or motion-heavy design. It is a team that needs someone who can go get a bucket, settle down the offense in key moments, and put pressure on opposing defenses in the half-court. Ingram’s presence checks all of those boxes, especially now that Toronto has offloaded several of its older, more conservative pieces and handed the keys to a younger core.
There is also a practical angle to all of this. If Ingram plays well enough to raise Toronto’s ceiling, the team benefits in the short-term. If he scores in bunches and his value skyrockets, he becomes an even more attractive trade asset before the next deadline. Either way, the Raptors gain flexibility and momentum by simply letting him be who he already is.
Toronto does not need to turn Brandon Ingram into some reimagined version of himself. They just need to give him the ball, let him fire, and see what happens. In a season with more questions than expectations, that kind of clarity is exactly what they need.