Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Trades, Free Agency

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Scotto: Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is considered the most likely player to be traded by rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype. Those executives believe the fit with Ingram and Zion isn’t ideal on the court. With Ingram entering the final season of his contract at $36 million, he’s been a trade candidate before, but he’s a prime trade candidate now.

I was brainstorming and just wondering in my head. I’m not reporting this. Depending on what happens with Cleveland this round, I wonder if an Ingram for Darius Garland trade could make sense for both sides this summer if Cleveland is able to re-sign Donovan Mitchell long-term (to an extension). I think there’s some question in Cleveland if they’re going to go with the two small guards lineup. They’ve got the two bigs in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley they could break up if they wanted. It seems like they’ve been missing a three since they got rid of Lauri Markkanen in the Donovan Mitchell trade. For the Pelicans, I know CJ McCollum can handle the ball, and they want the ball in Zion’s hands, but a true point guard is something they haven’t had. They’ve got an Ingram replacement in Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones would play more.

Guillory: I’ve been torn on this topic (if Ingram will be traded). The way he ended the season was so bad. He looked terrible in the first round of the playoffs. Lu Dort had him in jail for a lot of that series. At the end of that game, he told us this was the worst year he’s had in a Pelicans uniform going back to Team USA and the struggles he had last summer. His scoring was down this year. He improved his passing, and his defense was a little better this year, but I don’t think he had quite the same impact we’re used to seeing from him. I think a big part of what happened with him at the end of the season was him getting injured against Orlando a month before the playoffs. I think they would’ve had a good chance of dodging the Play-In Tournament if he was healthy all the way through. They probably would’ve been over that 50-win mark.

The financial situation is what it is, and they’ve got to make a big decision about whether they want to give him the amount of money he’ll be looking for in a contract extension and what that means for how they’re building the rest of their roster. They also are staring down a big-time extension with Trey Murphy this summer, which I’d assume gets done this summer. I think they’re really committed to having him as a complimentary piece next to Zion Williamson with his shooting, size, and athleticism. He fits a lot of what they want to be.

One of my rules of thumb is I hate trading a guy when his value is at an all-time low, and I think that’s where Ingram is right now. If you were trying to trade Ingram coming off last summer, where he was averaging 25 points per game, they made it to the Play-In, and Zion was out, I think you would’ve gotten a way better value for him then than now.

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When you look around the league, that Cleveland situation is an interesting one, whether it’s Donovan Mitchell. I think Jarrett Allen is another guy the Pelicans would be interested in for their center position. I’m just not completely sold that there are a lot of great options out there where the Pelicans can trade Ingram and feel like they’re making an upgrade over the team they have right now. Maybe they decide the financial situation overrides that. If I look at your Darius Garland scenario, I’d say he and CJ McCollum would be an interesting fit, being two smaller guards. Would they move Murphy into the starting lineup, and McCollum would go to the bench as a $30 million guy? I think that’s something that has to be discussed. I think the Cleveland situation overall is definitely going to be something the Pelicans will be interested in.

The Pelicans were also having conversations with Atlanta going into the trade deadline about potentially Dejounte Murray and maybe one of their bigs. I think that’s another team to keep an eye on.

Scotto: You brought up Jarrett Allen. Excellent point. We’ll touch on Jonas Valanciunas in a bit, but Allen played for Trajan Langdon when he was a Brooklyn Nets executive. He was certainly a fan of Allen.

Let me ask you this: Do you know ballpark-wise what Ingram and his camp would be looking for in an extension as he enters his final season at $36 million?

Guillory: I think they’d certainly be wanting to swim somewhere near those max waters. He’s still a guy in his mid-20s who is going to be a really good scorer in this league for a long time, a playmaker, and a guy who’s had success with this team as the No. 1 option at times when Zion’s been out. I think there are teams around the league who’d be interested in paying him, if not the max, all the way up to the max for the potential he brings as a wing scorer, can make plays off the dribble, is a versatile defender, and is a good locker room guy. I think he’s going to have value on the open market. Does it make sense to pay him and Trey Murphy if you’re going to maximize Zion? I’ve been banging my head against the wall, trying to figure out what’s the good Ingram trade. I keep coming back to Cleveland and Atlanta — and I think Miami is another interesting one. Maybe Brooklyn. I’m not sure any of these trades make them better.

Scotto: You brought up a couple of teams. Miami needs to make an upgrade, but I don’t know if it’s Ingram. I think they need more of a four. Ingram isn’t banging in the low post against fours. I’d say with Brooklyn, Mikal Bridges is their three. If you’re going to play small ball and have Ingram as the four, yeah. I know there are people in the Pelicans’ organization who like Nic Claxton. I also know there are people in the Nets’ organization who like Trey Murphy. I don’t think that makes sense for both teams. It’s more of an affinity for a player from afar. When you reminded me of the Pelicans and Hawks trade talks before the trade deadline, it’s interesting if it was Dejounte Murray and maybe Onyeka Okongwu or Clint Capela, depending on which big they’d want. Cleveland with Jarrett Allen is interesting, as you pointed out, but I don’t think Allen on the surface for Ingram is enough.