I've seen so many reactions to the Brandon Ingram trade over these last few days since the deadline, and in all honesty, it seems like Raptors nation is at about a 50/50 split in feeling. A lot of folks chiming in love it (as do I, to an extent); many find it confusing (I find this sentiment to be true also), while other commentators boldly denounce the Ingram trade entirely.
From a fan standpoint, you can't help but marvel at a fringe star-caliber player finding his way on the Toronto Raptors—a very daunting task to achieve for an otherwise overlooked franchise and NBA city. Be that as it may, as an analyst of hoops, I know that Ingram's track record in the NBA hasn't resulted in much success. But why is that?
Ingram is a true baller at heart, with a knack for scoring the rock from various areas of the court, and that can certainly churn out a solid amount of regular season games. How about when the lights shine bright, in the playoffs perhaps? Sure, Pelicans fans may reminisce about their 2022 first-round matchup with the Phoenix Suns, where Ingram served as the team's primary offensive focal point; but New Orleans was still bounced in six games.
Then in the 2024 playoffs, as New Orleans matched up with Oklahoma City in the first round, Ingram got completely shut down by one of the league's best wing defenders. Thunder wing Lu Dort made it rough for Ingram to find any momentum, locking him down in his aptly-named "Dorture Chamber," as it's come to be known in the OKC fanbase.
How effective can Brandon Ingram be, then? When he gets you buckets, that's when Ingram shines, but if he can't score, what else does he bring to the table? Well, he's a skillful playmaker and solid rebounder, but can you trust Ingram on the defensive end? History will tell you not to bank on it, just look at how far Toronto got with first option DeMar DeRozan.
Raptors should be very concerned with Brandon Ingram's defense
I don't think it helped being in a co-star duo with Zion Williamson, who has a ton of defensive issues in his own right, but that doesn't hide the fact that defense is Ingram's biggest liability. He has the length and build to be a great defensive wing, but the reality is, he's very slow on reads and doesn't embody an instilled toughness on that end. At the root of it, Ingram's allure is his scoring ability, which is clearly what caught Masai Ujiri and the Raptors' front office's eyes.
I had a chat with someone the other day, and we likened Ingram to that of Shareef Abdur-Rahim back in the day. A guy who could get you 20+ points with ease, a tremendous rebounder, had playmaking ability, but was largely forgotten because the teams he played for just weren't successful. Does that speak more to the front office's inability to surround him with good talent, or was Abdur-Rahim's playstyle just not cut out for true NBA success, a.k.a. "empty stats?"
Bearing that comparison in mind, can Brandon Ingram, as the primary offensive option, bring you results? Yes, I am not denying that. But there is an inevitability to that style of play, as his career has shown thus far: a first-round exit.
For a good opposing defensive team, it's very easy to arrange a game plan that will stifle Ingram's play. Don't get me wrong, he's a great teammate for team vibes; Ingram seems very zen and positive. On the flip side of things, Ingram rarely shows a physical or aggressive style, which is needed to back down opposing players and dominate like a leader.
Now, with a solid defensive cast in Toronto, there is certainly a world where Ingram can turn around this narrative. The pairing alongside Scottie Barnes is definitely better than playing alongside known defensive liabilities, Williamson and McCollum; Barnes has shown that he can play rough and tough.
Though keep in mind, the Raptors' construction isn't a perfect defensive lineup either. Fans saw how lapses on the defensive end could occur for the Raptors this year, but thankfully, they were able to turn things around as 2025 arrived. The team might have to address some clunky roster fits, such as hometown hero forward RJ Barrett's role on the team moving forward.
Is excitement in the air for this new addition? You betcha, but it's important to temper that enthusiasm with some concerns. Trusting Ingram to lead the offense is a significant ask; all signs indicate that the Raptors plan to play through him once he returns to health. However, his subpar defense has been a consistent critique throughout his career.
Raptors fans should prepare for the possibility that, if these issues persist, Ingram may not change significantly as a player in the future.