The trade request of Kevin Durant confronts many teams with a difficult reflection. What are they ready to sacrifice in exchange for such a player? The Celtics, for example, have shown that they don’t think Jaylen Brown so essential as we thought. The New Orleans Pelicans, on the contrary, would cling to Brandon Ingram.
The franchise has multiple resources to put together an offer and position itself seriously on the file. The players and the draft rounds are there. The prospect of associating Zion Williamson, back after signing a contract extension, to KD is also very intriguing. However, the Pelicans are not flinching.
Ingram would not have been on the table in negotiations with the Nets, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The sign of great confidence on the part of the front office. If the winger is not available for a player of the caliber of Kevin Durant, he can be considered untouchable.
Otherwise, that means New Orleans expects better than a two-time Finals MVP and four-time NBA leading scorer with multiple years on the contract. Suffice to say that such a player is unlikely to find himself on the transfer market. If it’s none.
In addition, Brooklyn is still as demanding with regard to Durant’s trade. Ingram will not be enough and the transaction would require significant sacrifices even beyond the workforce. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons that led Trajan Langdonthe General Manager, not to go all-in on this track.
Brandon Ingram expected at the turn
Brandon Ingram is averaging 23.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists since joining the Pelicans. All at 46.3% shooting and 37.3% at three points. All-Star and MIP in 2019-20, he quickly took a place at the heart of the franchise’s plans.
At almost 25 years old, we expect a lot from him for the 2022-2023 season. His team managed to qualify for the playoffs without Williamson, injured, while the arrival of CJ McCollum was still very recent. Next year will therefore be decisive for the project, more than ever ready to obtain real results.
New Orleans apparently intends to achieve its goal with Ingram. And this despite a violent drop in address outside, going from 38.1% in 2020-2021 to 32.7% last season. The winger underwent finger surgery this summer and should be fully fit for the training camp. Hoping that this solves his shooting problems and will help him to achieve an excellent exercise, both individually and collectively.
Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, always on the same wavelength
