Following getting swept by the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season, the New Orleans Pelicans were expected to be one of the more aggressive teams in the league during the offseason, with the primary goal being to upgrade the roster while trading star forward Brandon Ingram elsewhere.
Despite making a trade earlier in the offseason to acquire point guard Dejounte Murray, the Pelicans have been unable to find the right deal to ship Ingram to another team and receive valuable assets in return.
With the start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season still reasonably far down the line, with the league getting things started on October 22, the Pelicans still have some time to find a trade partner for Ingram, but making a deal doesn’t look promising as of right now.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the trade market for Ingram’s services is limited at this point in time, which means he could suit up for New Orleans once again next season via The Pat McAfee Show.
“I’m told the trade market for Brandon Ingram is limited. New Orleans wants him to stay, and he wants to stay as well. The sense around New Orleans is he’s going to be there, and they’re fully expecting him to be part of this Pelicans team,” Charania said.
“I’m told the trade market for Brandon Ingram is limited..
New Orleans wants him to stay and he wants to stay as well..
The sense around New Orleans is he’s going to be there and they’re fully expecting him to be part of this Pelicans team” ~ @ShamsCharania#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SGHwYiebLk
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 6, 2024
Obviously, this can change in the months ahead, as teams might come calling closer to the start of the season with an interest in acquiring the veteran forward in a deal.
However, New Orleans might be better off keeping him, especially now that they’ve upgraded with the addition of Murray.
NEXT:
Details Emerge About Brandon Ingram’s Contract Demands