I’m told Toronto has emerged as a team to watch when it comes to Brandon Ingram. It remains to be seen whether the Raptors become more than that where Ingram is concerned, but the mere suggestion of potential Raptors interest is the most significant development in weeks when it comes to the New Orleans forward who earned his lone All-Star berth during the 2019-20 season interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
More on this storyline
On Bleacher Report’s show “NBA Insider Notebook,” Fischer spoke on such teams as the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings that have been needing to “improve on the wing.” However, he mentioned how some of the talks could have winded down due to his ankle injury and general history. “I have been told that Milwaukee is considering options to go out and improve on the wing,” Fischer said. “They checked in and were interested in the concept of Brandon Ingram back in December, but like that’s one conversation that I know hasn’t continued since he’s been injured. “Same thing with Sacramento. That’s someone that they considered dating back to this past summer.” -via Clutch Points / January 23, 2025
JEFF WECHSLER DOESN’T remember who initially sent him the clip last month of Magic Johnson rehashing his version of how the 2017 draft played out when he was starting his two-year stint as the Lakers’ president of basketball operations. But Wechsler certainly remembers his response to it. “I was like, ‘Well, it’s not factually correct,’” Wechsler, who has been Tatum’s agent his entire career, told ESPN. “Parts of it were correct, but it wasn’t the sequence or the cadence of what happened.” Johnson said, during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA radio, that the Lakers were “top-heavy in forwards” and L.A. “couldn’t take [Tatum]’.” L.A.’s roster featured second-year forward Brandon Ingram, fourth-year forward Julius Randle and third-year forward Larry Nance Jr. at the time. Johnson continued: “His agent, also, didn’t want us to work him out because he didn’t want him to end up with the Lakers because we were already top-heavy with forwards.” Wechsler objects. He recalls a different set of events. -via ESPN / January 23, 2025
Now the Pistons are considering the concept of becoming trade deadline buyers, according to league sources. Yet these appear to be more preliminary and evaluative conversations — how any methodical and pragmatic front office would look at all the avenues that the market presents. The Pistons have also left rival teams with the impression they aren’t weighing any truly massive moves, such as a swing for New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, who would need some of Cunningham’s touches. -via marcstein.substack.com / January 18, 2025