Brandon Ingram Trade Rumors: Raptors 'Team to Watch' for Pelicans Star at Deadline
January 28, 2025
The Toronto Raptors have "emerged as a team to watch" regarding New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram as the Feb. 6 trade deadline looms.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported the latest in his Stein Line newsletter.
"While the Heat have undoubtedly intensified their efforts to bring an end to the contentious Butler saga by finding a deal before the Feb. 6 trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET, I'm told Toronto has emerged as a team to watch when it comes to Ingram," Stein wrote.
Ingram has averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 18 games. He has been out since Dec. 7 after suffering a significant low left ankle sprain against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 27-year-old Ingram is a name to watch before the trade deadline for a few reasons.
First, he's an impending free agent, and he and the Pels were unable to come to terms on a contract extension in talks last summer, per ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Second, this has been a nightmarish season for the 12-35 Pels, who are second-last in the Western Conference thanks largely to a litany of injuries throughout the roster. It's fair to wonder about the team's outlook given its significant struggles, and the Pels are perhaps best-served trading Ingram, acquiring assets and rebuilding for future seasons.
Third, Ingram is a productive player when healthy, averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game for New Orleans since 2019.
Now Toronto is a struggling and rebuilding team itself, a 14-32 team mixed with young and exciting talents to build around and some veterans. Stein gave some more insight on the Raptors' approach right now.
"Word is that Toronto is involved in a number of conversations as the trade deadline approaches, fully immersed in the search for players and opportunities that can position the franchise to rediscover relevancy while assessing all of their options with the trade-friendly contracts possessed by Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher and Davion Mitchell," Stein wrote.
Right now, Toronto is pretty far from being a playoff team, let alone a championship contender, sitting five-and-a-half games behind the Chicago Bulls for the last play-in spot. The Raptors likely need some lottery luck to hit big on new talents in the coming years, but adding a player like Ingram would certainly make them more competitive as well.
For now, Ingram remains a Pelican, and the Raptors have been quiet on the trade front. Both things can change soon enough, though, with the trade deadline now nine days away.
