The Toronto Raptors finally made a move with the trade deadline less than 24 hours away. However, it’s a move in quite a stunning direction. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Toronto Raptors have traded Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick, and one second-round pick in exchange for Brandon Ingram.
Breaking: The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/tI4jo2cYhM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
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The Raptors Finally Made a Trade Just Not One Most Expected
Making Sense Of The Trade
Approaching the trade deadline, most around the league viewed the Raptors as sellers. Having made it clear in the offseason that this season was for rebuilding and development, injuries early in the year only seemed to reinforce this notion. Yet, despite being 16-35, this move is one that a buyer makes, not a team committed to tanking. Yes, in a vacuum, the trade is good value. Ingram is a young All-Star-level wing who can score. Looking at the whole picture through it leaves many questions on how the rotation will shake out. Does RJ Barrett or Gradey Dick go to the bench? Can Toronto keep all four of Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes, and Ingram once Barnes’ new contract kicks in? It’s too early to tell, but the Raptors trading for Ingram only leaves more questions than answers.
Brandon Ingram
Ingram’s last season in New Orleans has been a bumpy ride, only appearing in 18 games for the Pelicans. Missed games have been a staple of Ingram’s time, with the Pelicans playing an average of just 50.8 games per season since getting to the big easy. Unsurprisingly, Ingram has been out since December 7th with an ankle injury. It’s unclear if he will be available right away to play for Toronto, but there should be no rush for him to suit up. When Ingram has been able to play, he’s a professional scorer, putting up 23 points on 47.2/37.2/84.7 shooting splits across 305 games with New Orleans.
Ingram also made one All-Star team with the Pelicans back in 2019-2020, winning the Most Improved Player award that season as well. At just 27, Ingram is still just entering his prime and brings a much-needed scoring threat to the Raptors. He is a free agent this offseason, so Toronto must resign him, but with his bird rights and lack of market, that shouldn’t be too difficult.
What Toronto Gave Up
With Ingram coming in, the Raptors do have to send out Canada’s own Olynyk and the team’s cowboy in Brown. After missing the start of the season, the vets had begun to really round into form, being key players in the Raptors’ recent five-game winning streak. For the season, Olynyk is averaging 7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 52.3% overall and 47.4% from deep. Losing Olynyk’s spacing and passing from the five spot hurts and will change how the bench units operate.
However, at his age, Olynyk was not going to be a part of this new era for long. Brown is putting up 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists for the year, shooting 44.3% overall and 33.3% from deep. As soon as Brown got to Toronto, he was expected to be traded, and while it wasn’t the type of deal most were expecting, it finally happened.
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