Brandon Ingram Rumors: Pelicans Trade Talks Have 'Intensified' amid Kings Buzz
July 4, 2024
The New Orleans Pelicans have recently "intensified" their attempts to trade Brandon Ingram, NBA insider Marc Stein reported.
"Sources tell The Stein Line that on Ingram's side, with the reality that the contract extension terms his camp had hoped for are not forthcoming from the Pelicans, there has likewise been exploration of trade options," Stein wrote.
Amid these trade talks, the Sacramento Kings have are "said to have explored the feasibility and fit" of trading for Ingram as part of a potential deal involving Kevin Huerter and Harrison Barnes, per Stein.
Sean Cunningham reported last week for Sacramento's Fox 40 that the Pelicans and Kings had held discussions about a potential trade for Ingram, who averaged 20.8 points in 64 games for New Orleans last regular season.
Ingram also averaged 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists per regular-season game.
He was held to just 14.3 points per game during the postseason as the Pelicans were swept from the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ingram is currently set to play the 2024-25 season on an expiring contract worth just over $36 million, making him an attractive trade target the Pelicans could potentially use to build their roster around Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III.
In addition to moving Ingram, the Pelicans' next moves are expected to be re-signing Murphy and "bolstering their frontline," Stein reported.
Murphy has one season remaining on his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension this offseason.
New Orleans meanwhile has to find a replacement for center Jonas Valančiūnas, who ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported has signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards. That could potentially entice New Orleans to accepting a trade that includes the pair of Kings wings reportedly on offer.
The Kings could end up pursuing another trade or free agency target, as the team has also been tied to Lauri Markkanen and Kyle Kuzma, as reported by HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.
But the Sacramento front office has ties to Ingram through Kings executive Alvin Grenty, Cunningham noted. Gentry was head coach of the Pelicans during Ingram's breakout All-Star and Most Improved Player campaign in 2019-20.
That connection could lead the Kings to target Ingram as Sacramento looks to retool back into a playoff contender next season.