The Toronto Raptors have officially announced they have acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and a 2026 first-round draft pick (top-4 protected via Indiana Pacers) and a 2031 second-round draft pick.
Ingram is a 6-foot-8 forward who has career averages of 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 46.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent shooting from three. He averaged 20.0 points in each of the last 6 seasons with the Pelicans and was named an NBA All-Star in 2020. He also won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award that same season.
“We see Brandon [Ingram] as an integral part of this team’s future – he’s an elite scorer, he has a really diverse offensive skillset, and adding him to the young core we have is huge as we continue our quest to win in Toronto,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said via a press release.
Ingram should not affect the Raptors’ immediate plans of trying to obtain a top pick in the upcoming draft. Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said the team’s goals for this season remain the same in terms of player development. Webster thinks it’s still a rebuild and the Raptors trading for Ingram is more of a “long-term play,” via TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
Ingram is now extension eligible and the Raptors can start talking about his next contract. Webster said the Raptors are “looking forward” to having those discussions. “(We) hope to lock him up so he has a long stay in Toronto,” Webster said via Lewenberg.
There is still no update on Ingram’s ankle injury and no timetable for his return. He has been out of action since early December. Ingram is expected to meet with the Raptors’ medical staff when he joins the team on their upcoming road trip and that is when they will have a better idea of when he will return, via Lewenberg.
Raptors share injury report against Thunder
The Toronto Raptors will be undermanned when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 7.
Jakob Poeltl will be out once again with a right hip injury, via TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
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