Brandon Ingram last made the All-Star Game in 2020, just before the world shut down. He is currently injured and hasn't played since December 7th. He reportedly wants a maximum contract extension and the New Orleans Pelicans have not been willing to pay anything close to that, which is why he is both on the trade market and has scared off interested teams.
As recently as a week ago, it seemed like Ingram was a lock to stay put in New Orleans because of those contract demands and his difficult fit on some teams. Yet over the past few days suddenly the bloom has returned to the rose, and Ingram is not only back in the mix for a trade, he is being hotly pursued.
The Toronto Raptors were first mentioned as a potential landing spot for Brandon Ingram, a team looking for another star to pair with Scottie Barnes and raise the floor and ceiling of a Raptors team that was full of intriguing talent but couldn't seem to win games to save their lives.
Now they will have to beat out another disappointing Eastern Conference team for his services, as Sam Amick of The Athletic is reporting that the Atlanta Hawks are "neck-and-neck" with the Toronto Raptors to trade for Brandon Ingram.
The Raptors and Hawks are fighting over Brandon Ingram
A bidding war only benefits the Pelicans, so at some point one team or the other will bow out and the other will win the prize: a 27-year-old former All-Star wing with a silky smooth jumper, underrated defensive tools and a long track record of inconsistency. How much is that worth to the Raptors or the Hawks?
The Hawks had young forward Jalen Johnson break out this season before going down to a season-ending injury. They also drafted Zaccharie Risacher first overall, and he switches between the 2 and the 3 on the wing. Do the Hawks really need another perimeter wing/forward? They are a tremendous commodity to have, so perhaps Atlanta sees the three manning the 2-4 on the team for a long time.
For the Raptors, they don't have a natural small forward to put next to Scottie Barnes, so Ingram makes a bit more sense. Would they trade RJ Barrett as a part of that deal, or commit to paying the tax and use expiring money to bring him in? It's a fascinating question without an obvious answer.
Trading for Ingram is just the beginning; then comes a new contract. The Raptors have the ammunition to beat out the Hawks, with draft picks and prospects and expiring salary, but should they? That's a different question, and one that will only be known with time.
The Raps and Hawks are neck-and-neck; who is going to win by a nose?