Report: Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram to Raptors

Posted on by David Grubb

Well, it finally happened. After months of speculation, the New Orleans Pelicans have officially moved on from Brandon Ingram, sending him to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick. It’s not the kind of return that Pelicans fans might have hoped for, but given the situation, the Pelicans didn’t have much choice.

This trade marks the biggest shakeup of the New Orleans roster since the Anthony Davis deal in 2019—when Ingram was considered the centerpiece of the Pelicans’ return. The hope back then was that he and Zion Williamson could grow into a dynamic tandem that would lead the Pelicans into contention. Ingram looked great when he arrived. He was named an All-Star in 2020, won the Most Improved Player award, and earned a five-year max extension. But that was as good as it got. Injuries piled up, with Ingram never appearing in more than 64 games in any season with the Pelicans. Brandon’s fit with Zion never really clicked. And the Pelicans—despite flashes of promise—never truly broke through.

At 12-39, dead last in the West, New Orleans didn’t have another choice but to move on from Ingram, who turned down multiple contract extension offers, including a $50 million deal in 2023 and a $40 million offer in 2024. Since he had no intention of staying in New Orleans, the Pelicans had to get something in return. It’s not the most exciting package—Brown and Olynyk are solid role players, and some picks to help restock the cupboard—but it was a better option than just losing him for nothing this summer.

For the Raptors, the impact of this move is less clear. Toronto sits at 16-35 and 13th in the East, nowhere near contention. Perhaps they see Ingram as a potential long-term piece and hope they can convince him to re-sign in free agency. If that doesn’t happen, they essentially gave up actual assets for a rental that may or may not play the final 30 games of the season.

As for New Orleans, this trade is a clear marker of a shift within the organization. Whether it’s a full reset or just a reshuffle remains to be seen, but at the very least, David Griffin has his eyes on the future. The Pelicans took a major step back this season and have one of the worst records in the league, meaning they’ll likely end up with a top draft pick in 2025. Maybe that pick turns into the next face of the franchise. Maybe they use it as a trade chip to retool around Zion and Trey Murphy. Either way, the Pelicans are heading in a different direction.

Ingram’s departure is the end of an era—one that never quite lived up to expectations. He was good in New Orleans, sometimes great. But he was never the guy. Now, both he and the Pelicans get a fresh start. Whether that’s for the best? We’ll find out soon enough.

Ingram finishes his Pelicans career near the top of several statistical categories.

Brandon Ingram’s Pelicans stats (rank in parentheses):

  • Games: 305 (6)
  • Minutes Played: 10,302 (6)
  • Points: 7017 (5)
  • Field Goals: 2532 (5)
  • Field Goal Attempts: 5365 (5)
  • 3P Made: 560 (3)
  • Free Throws: 1393 (4)
  • Rebounds: 1669 (10)
  • Assists: 1580 (3)
  • Steals: 235 (9)
  • Triple-Doubles: 3 (4)
  • Points Per Game: 23.0 (3)
  • Win Shares: 22.8 (6)

Pelicans Recieve:

  • Bruce Brown: 8.4 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.6 ast, 0.9 stl, 0.2 blk in 17 games
  • Kelly Olynyk: 7.0 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.3 ast, 0.7 stl, 0.3 blk in 23 games
  • 2026 first-round pick (via Indiana Pacers)
  • Second-round pick

Raptors Recieve:

  • Brandon Ingram: 22.2 pts, 5.6 reb, 5.2 ast, 0.9 stl, 0.6 blk in 18 games

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