New Orleans Pelicans Small Forward Brandon Ingram is reportedly going to draw interest from two Eastern Conference playoff teams during the 2024 NBA Offseason. According to well-respected NBA journalist Sam Amico, Ingram is expected to be pursued by both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers this offseason.
Ingram was a crucial part of a New Orleans Pelicans team this season that finished with a 49-33 record. They were the eighth seed in the Western Conference and ended up in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The team went 1-1 in the Play-In Tournament and drew the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. New Orleans was swept in the first round, and one of the reasons why was a terrible series from Ingram. He averaged 14 points per game on an anemic 34.5% from the field and 25% shooting from downtown.
He is entering the final year of his contract during the 2024-25 season. Ingram is eligible for a four-year, $208 million extension this offseason.
Brandon Ingram averaged 20.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this regular season. What team will he play from once next season tips off?
Brandon Ingram Career Summary
The Cavaliers and 76ers are expected to show interest in Brandon Ingram, per @AmicoHoops
The Pelicans are unlikely to offer Ingram a max extension this summer 😬 pic.twitter.com/SQAfu1oDFy
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 4, 2024
Brandon Ingram was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent the first three seasons of his career in Los Angeles but was sent to New Orleans as the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. Ingram has spent the last five seasons in the “Big Easy.” If the reporting by Amico is valid, Ingram may have bounced his last ball in the city of New Orleans.
Ingram made the NBA All-Rookie team in 2017 and is a one-time NBA All-Star(2020). He was also named the Most Improved Player during the 2019-2020 season. He is a career 19.4 point per game scorer along with 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Brandon Ingram’s Fit With The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers(48-34) finished as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference but were upended by the Boston Celtics in the second round. Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell missed games four and five with a calf strain. If Cleveland were to trade for Ingram, he would slide in as the team’s starting small forward in place of three-point specialist Max Strus. The Cavaliers had the 2oth-ranked offense in the regular season averaging 112.6 points per game.
Cleveland’s offensive woes continued in the 2024 NBA Postseason as they averaged 98.1 points per game, the third-fewest of any playoff team. Ingram would immediately improve the offense of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram’s Fit With The Philadelphia 76ers
If Ingram were to find himself in the “City of Brotherly Love” it would create the league’s newest “Big Three.” He would team up with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid as the Sixers look for their first NBA championship in franchise history. Philly has the makings of a championship contender, but the determining factor will be the health of Embiid. He looked well on his way to a second consecutive NBA MVP Award until a knee injury sidelined him for two months.
Once Embiid went down, the Sixers went tumbling down the Eastern Conference standings. The Sixers ended up in the NBA Play-In and fell to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs in six games as Embiid was hampered. Brandon Ingram would provide the team with another top-flight scorer with Small Forward Tobias Harris set to be a free agent this offseason.
One thing is for sure, wherever Brandon Ingram ends up next season, his team will get one of the top players in the National Basketball Association.
About The Author
Justin has always loved sports. He has previously written for Sports Illustrated and 247Sports. He is always willing to talk football (NFL or college) and basketball, whether it’s on the women’s or men’s side, college or pro! Check out all of the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy
