On February 5th, 2025, the Toronto Raptors agreed to a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. This trade saw former All-Star Brandon Ingram depart from the team he had represented for six years. In return, the Pelicans received Bruce Brown Jr, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2031 second-round pick. For a rebuilding team, this move was somewhat controversial. Let’s look at why the Raptors gambled on Ingram and why it may just pay off.
Why the Toronto Raptors Gambled on Brandon Ingram
Extremely Low Price For An All-Star
For all the times Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster didn’t win the sweepstakes for a superstar, it’s clear why. They refuse to overpay for players who can request a trade and ruin your franchise in a few years. We also know from the Kawhi Leonard trade that these two are opportunists. This trade was exactly that: what kind of All-Star is shipped off for two older players, a late first-round pick, and a second-round pick? Getting a player of Ingram’s caliber for this low of a price is amazing value.
Why It Was A Gamble
To answer the question from above, why? It’s because it didn’t look like he was re-signing in New Orleans, and they wanted something in return for him. When Toronto traded for Ingram, the gamble was extending him before he hit free agency in the summer. Ingram’s looming free agency is partly why his price was so low. A second but smaller gamble for the Raptors was Ingram’s ankle injury. He only played in 18 games in the 2024-2025 season, and none for the Raptors, rehabbing that sprained left ankle. Ingram also has a long injury that impacted his trade value.
How It Has Worked Out So Far
A couple of months later, before Ingram stepped on the court for Toronto, we can look at this trade in a good light. This is because shortly after being traded, the Raptors and Ingram agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract extension. This means that for at least the next three years, the Raptors, along with whoever they pick in the draft, have their core. It was clear for this Raptors team that they had a solid defensive core, but other than RJ Barrett, there isn’t a lot of scoring on the team. So, even just knowing that a 22 ppg scorer will be joining next season, without the Raptors having to deal with free agency or the uncertainty of the NBA draft, fans should be ecstatic.
How Will the Raptors Look Next Season?
With the addition of Brandon Ingram, we can safely say next year is a stepping-stone year where Toronto expects to at least make the Play-In and hopefully the playoffs. Assuming none of the core pieces get moved on in the off-season, which isn’t a guarantee, the Raps would look something like this. PG: Immanuel Quickley, SG: Barrett, SF: Ingram, PF: Scottie Barnes, C: Jakob Poeltl. Along with this starting five, the bench looks great with players like Jamal Shead, Gradey Dick, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamison Battle, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, and whoever the Raptors draft this year.
When looking at most of their players, their best attributes are their defensive abilities, with some outliers like Battle, Quickley, and Barrett. This means they didn’t need a player who was going to carry a load defensively, but instead a player who can score effortlessly. If the Raptors’ goal is to make the playoffs and compete with some of the best teams, they need a playoff scorer, which is what Ingram is. In the 2021-2022 playoffs, Ingram averaged 27 ppg, which was a near five-point increase from the regular season that year. The young Raptors team will need players who elevate in the playoffs, which Ingram has proven to do. Ingram’s proven elite scoring and shot creation make him a natural fit for the Raptors. Overall, the Raptors’ gamble on Ingram is set to pay off next season.
Featured image: © Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The post Why The Toronto Raptors Gambled on Brandon Ingram appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.