New Orleans Pelicans front office leader David Griffin said that the team's motivation to trade Brandon Ingram was primarily a financial one, but that injuries also played a role in the move. The Pelicans traded Ingram to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk ahead of last week's trade deadline.
"We reached a point where financially we weren’t going to be able to keep the group together as we were constructed," Griffin said.
Ingram was seeking a contract extension prior to being traded. With multiple players on large long-term deals, many with their own injury concerns, New Orleans couldn't commit to Ingram on a new deal. Griffin referenced the injuries across the roster as a reason for the trade too.
"We need to get better just in terms of our ability to build a more available roster," Griffin said. "Obviously, that’s something we’ve failed at to this point."
Brown is on an expiring contract, while Olynyk has one-year remaining after this one. However, the Pelicans don't see either player as a short-term addition.
"This is not viewed as a short-term situation with either player in our minds," Griffin said. "We hope, as the season unfolds, they grow to feel the same about us."
Via Brett Martel/AP
