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Shams breaks down HUGE Butler trade | 00:47
Two more NBA trade dominoes have dropped, with the New Orleans Pelicans dealing rangy forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in an intriguing move, while the Los Angeles Lakers got busy again.
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According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Ingram was dealt to the Raptors for guard-forward Bruce Brown Jr., centre Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder. Fellow insider Chris Haynes also reported on the deal.
The 27-year-old North Carolina native remains sidelined with a troublesome left ankle injury and had previously been floated as a potential target for the Golden State Warriors, among other Western Conference rivals.
The move comes just hours after the Miami Heat finally parted ways with All-NBA forward Jimmy Butler in a blockbuster four-team deal.
A one-time All-Star, Ingram had averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 18 games this season before suffering his injury.
Toronto is a curious destination, with the 16-35 Raptors seemingly in the process of rebuilding their roster, sitting third-last in the Eastern Conference.
It adds Ingram arguably at the height of his talents but the franchise is nowhere close to a contending position.
The 6-8 forward, one of the league’s best mid-range shooters whose talents extend beyond the three-point arc, is in the final year of a five-year, US$158.2 million (AU$252.5 million) contract.
Ingram joins a core comprising up-and-coming star Scottie Barnes, crafty left-hander RJ Barrett and shooter Gradey Dick, but it has prompted some criticism, with CBS reporter Sam Quinn recalling a similar Raptors roster construction issue from previous seasons.
Later, the Los Angeles Lakers made another headline trade. Sure, not as ‘headline’ as their whopper Luka Doncic acquisition, but a noteworthy exchange nonetheless.
The Lakers dealt rookie shooter Dalton Knecht, guard Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for centre Mark Williams, per Charania late Thursday afternoon (AEDT).
After offloading All-NBA defender Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles was suddenly left needing in terms of rim deterrence, and it attempts to address that void with the addition of seven-foot Williams.
The 23-year-old Virginian has averaged 16.0 points and 1.2 blocks per game thus far this season.
At face value, it appears a tremendous haul for the developing Hornets under Charles Lee, with The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie among those critical of the move on the Lakers’ part.
“I … don’t like this at all for the Lakers,” Vecenie wrote on X. “That’s so much asset capital for a player that has had back issues and has not been good on defence this year.
“It’s an amazing potential offensive fit with how big and long he is, but man … the Lakers’ perimeter defence isn’t that far off of what Charlotte’s is, and it’s been real bad for him in drop (coverage). And it’s just so much pick capital for a centre!
“Basically think that for that price tag when you have limited trade assets moving forward as the Lakers, you have to believe Williams is going to be an All-Star. It’s so much of their flexibility out the door.”
