Trade Proposal Sends Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram To Pistons

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Pistons and Pelicans: 

The trade: The Detroit Pistons trade Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and two lightly protected future firsts to the New Orleans Pelicans for Brandon Ingram

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Pelicans this season while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from deep and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He is eligible to sign an extension this summer. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

The Pistons, meanwhile, went 14-68 this season. They had the worst record in the NBA. 

“The Pistons ‘need to do something’ this summer, as multiple executives told B/R’s Eric Pincus, and this would clearly qualify,” Buckley wrote. “But if Detroit wanted a big man at No. 1—probably Alexandre Sarr, but maybe the rapidly rising Donovan Clingan—it might feel like it could be without both Duren and Stewart.

“Especially if it meant landing a talent like Ingram, whose future in New Orleans feels tenuous at best following a rocky (and injury-impacted) finish to the campaign. The Pistons, which had this season’s fourth-least efficient offense, could use more scoring, creation and shooting, and Ingram helps check every box. He’s also young enough—27 in September—that Detroit has a little time to properly align the roster around him. And while he can serve as a primary offensive hub, he’s also not so ball-dominant that he’d get in the way of the ongoing development of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.”

Ingram, who began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Lakers and Pelicans. 

New Orleans is not expected to sign Ingram to an extension this offseason, making him a potential trade target. 

Ingram will make $36 million next season in the final year of his contract.