Official Brandon Ingram Thread

[TakeYourHeart]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

I mean where did Ingram take New Orleans? He had Zion and a high level supporting cast: CJ, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, JV, Dyson Daniels etc. Arguably better than what we have and offer way more spacing.

Expecting more from Ingram is tough to believe unless Darko unlocks his passion for taking care of his body and defensive skills. I kind of think he may end up like Rudy Gay if things don't work out.

"He had Zion" Zion has never played in the playoffs for his entire career

[deck]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

I mean where did Ingram take New Orleans? He had Zion and a high level supporting cast: CJ, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, JV, Dyson Daniels etc. Arguably better than what we have and offer way more spacing.

Expecting more from Ingram is tough to believe unless Darko unlocks his passion for taking care of his body and defensive skills. I kind of think he may end up like Rudy Gay if things don't work out.

When they had that roster, they finished 49 - 33 in a very competitive western conference...

[Dalek]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

I mean where did Ingram take New Orleans? He had Zion and a high level supporting cast: CJ, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, JV, Dyson Daniels etc. Arguably better than what we have and offer way more spacing.

Expecting more from Ingram is tough to believe unless Darko unlocks his passion for taking care of his body and defensive skills. I kind of think he may end up like Rudy Gay if things don't work out.

"He had Zion" Zion has never played in the playoffs for his entire career

If they aren't even making the playoffs with Zion then that also tells a story about their lack of success even if Zion's games played was limited. Ingram is not a guy to carry a team through tough times, and even with a fairly good supporting cast NOP didn't do much. Granted NOP is in the tougher Western conference, but I still wouldn't consider Ingram as a game-changer. He is not even a Paul George type of acquisition. I think he is probably a good third star on a playoff team.

Now, with a strong draft this coming year and key injuries to stars like Tatum and Haliburton, I do think Toronto has a shot to win games. Especially with Bobby running the show he may want to push for the playoffs. Maybe Ingram stays healthy and averages 22/5/5.

[ConSarnit]

Masai was absolutely on do nothing auto-pilot and did a terrible job to improve the team after the championship, to put it mildly.

This was actually a very good move to give this franchise a glimmer of hope.

These are the type of moves that have to be made as a GM in Toronto, whether they pan out or not. Anyone that plays it safe in this City shouldn't even be considered.

If Masai was on auto-pilot then who was in charge during the past few years? The guy we just made president. Not exactly confidence inspiring.

I think everyone in the upper Org was ok and actually planned to be mediocre, until we failed at that. Then chit hit the fan. Masai got back involved to blow it up, blame others and save some face.

The reason we had success before is Masai came in with swag and energy to do whatever it takes to win in TO. We def need that same approach in someone willing to go "all in" at the right moments and not just accept mediocrity.

If Bobby is a yes man... we are in trouble

How does this outcome give us a glimmer of hope? If we planned to be mediocre (something that is not hard to do) and we failed at that why should we have any confidence in our new front office?

[ConSarnit]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

The last healthy 2 years Kawhi had for the Spurs:

2x 1st team all-NBA
2x 1st team all-defense
2nd in MVP voting
3rd in MVP voting
1x DPOY

The chasm between the upside of Kawhi and Ingram was/is massive.

Kawhi was a top 3 impact player. We’ll be lucky if Ingram is top 25 imo. Even if he’s healthy his upside is low level all-star. He’s basically a better fitting (with Barnes) Siakam-level player.

All that said, as a #1 option he’s way better than anyone else we have.

[Tripod]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

The last healthy 2 years Kawhi had for the Spurs:

2x 1st team all-NBA
2x 1st team all-defense
2nd in MVP voting
3rd in MVP voting
1x DPOY

The chasm between the upside of Kawhi and Ingram was/is massive.

Kawhi was a top 3 impact player. We’ll be lucky if Ingram is top 25 imo. Even if he’s healthy his upside is low level all-star. He’s basically a better fitting (with Barnes) Siakam-level player.

All that said, as a #1 option he’s way better than anyone else we have.

The chasm between trading your top scorer and top 2 player, a recent top 10 pick and a 1st vs trading an expected late 1st+2 salary fillers...is also massive.

As a team that needs to look for buy low opportunities, it's well worth the risk.

[refshateRaps]

If Masai was on auto-pilot then who was in charge during the past few years? The guy we just made president. Not exactly confidence inspiring.

I think everyone in the upper Org was ok and actually planned to be mediocre, until we failed at that. Then chit hit the fan. Masai got back involved to blow it up, blame others and save some face.

The reason we had success before is Masai came in with swag and energy to do whatever it takes to win in TO. We def need that same approach in someone willing to go "all in" at the right moments and not just accept mediocrity.

If Bobby is a yes man... we are in trouble

How does this outcome give us a glimmer of hope? If we planned to be mediocre (something that is not hard to do) and we failed at that why should we have any confidence in our new front office?

The current situ is is a gamble. It could fail or be a great success depending on health and development as in making any gamble.

The previous situation of Fred and Pascal as our scoring leaders was destined to fail and had a mediocre ceiling. No one in the FO even tried to make the team better during those years.

Big difference. The team has now has a lot of unknowns, but ill take a team like this in TO. My preference would've been keeping the core we had and adding a scoring threat thru a Barnes trade. But this current situ is very interesting.

If the youth on this team grows, the core meshes and stays remotely healthy.... It could surprise many.

Anytime the FO gambles, id never blame them if it fails. I only blame them for doing nothing of real substance and selling it as something, as we witnessed for a long period during the Colangelo years and the Masai post championship years where we had good cores with hard ceilings.

[AkelaLoneWolf]

Where does healthy Ingram rank in a “I want to win one game/series and everyone is available” sense?

I hate to bring up Kawhi, because I think the situations, trades, and players are not really comparable, but he was probably considered top 10ish overall at the time, but was more like top 3 on the court.

We similarly got Ingram for cheap(ish), but when he’s on the court, should we be expecting top 20 impact? Top 50? I really have no idea.

The last healthy 2 years Kawhi had for the Spurs:

2x 1st team all-NBA
2x 1st team all-defense
2nd in MVP voting
3rd in MVP voting
1x DPOY

The chasm between the upside of Kawhi and Ingram was/is massive.

Kawhi was a top 3 impact player. We’ll be lucky if Ingram is top 25 imo. Even if he’s healthy his upside is low level all-star. He’s basically a better fitting (with Barnes) Siakam-level player.

All that said, as a #1 option he’s way better than anyone else we have.

The chasm between trading your top scorer and top 2 player, a recent top 10 pick and a 1st vs trading an expected late 1st+2 salary fillers...is also massive.

As a team that needs to look for buy low opportunities, it's well worth the risk.

This is it in a nutshell. We’re not the lakers. No one is offering us Doncic. If you can get an all star caliber player for a frp plus expirings and he can deliver 55-60 games a year and healthy for the playoffs you have to make that deal

[ConSarnit]

I think everyone in the upper Org was ok and actually planned to be mediocre, until we failed at that. Then chit hit the fan. Masai got back involved to blow it up, blame others and save some face.

The reason we had success before is Masai came in with swag and energy to do whatever it takes to win in TO. We def need that same approach in someone willing to go "all in" at the right moments and not just accept mediocrity.

If Bobby is a yes man... we are in trouble

How does this outcome give us a glimmer of hope? If we planned to be mediocre (something that is not hard to do) and we failed at that why should we have any confidence in our new front office?

The current situ is is a gamble. It could fail or be a great success depending on health and development as in making any gamble.

The previous situation of Fred and Pascal as our scoring leaders was destined to fail and had a mediocre ceiling. No one in the FO even tried to make the team better during those years.

Big difference. The team has now has a lot of unknowns, but ill take a team like this in TO. My preference would've been keeping the core we had and adding a scoring threat thru a Barnes trade. But this current situ is very interesting.

If the youth on this team grows, the core meshes and stays remotely healthy.... It could surprise many.

Anytime the FO gambles, id never blame them if it fails. I only blame them for doing nothing of real substance and selling it as something, as we witnessed for a long period during the Colangelo years and the Masai post championship years where we had good cores with hard ceilings.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your argument. But if you were unhappy with the past few years AND you believe Masai was asleep at the wheel then doesn't that mean that Bobby was the guy in charge the last few "unhappy" years? And if we are making the guy in charge of the unhappy years the new boss, how is that giving us hope for the future? Isn't the best outcome for us that Masai was still actively involved and he just lost his touch?

[Basketball_Jones]

I honestly barely watched BI and the Pelicans. Talented team they put together though amazing how they could never get healthy together. Aside from being really flashy, I don’t know much about BI’s overall game but he does look extremely talented with Durant/Edwards type of capability offensively. My hopes are really high if he’s healthy.

[tsherkin]

I honestly barely watched BI and the Pelicans. Talented team they put together though amazing how they could never get healthy together. Aside from being really flashy, I don’t know much about BI’s overall game but he does look extremely talented with Durant/Edwards type of capability offensively. My hopes are really high if he’s healthy.

He might aesthetically resemble Durant, but there's nothing similar in terms of impact or upperbound. Very different player than Edwards, too; much more competent at getting past the front line to attack beneath the 3pt line, whereas Ant is super prepared to just chuck from 3 (though damn, was he ever hot in the RS).

BI is a decent scorer. Very capable at getting past the first guy. With more spacing, might look reasonably strong. At his best, he was something like a +2% rTS guy who could create with a live dribble and hit other guys well with passes off his initiation. I think he's a better passer and worse scorer than someone like KD, raw APG notwithstanding.

He's going to be very valuable to us when he's on the floor.

[Tripod]

Just saw Ingram was cleared to return from Players Assistance Program.

My heart sank.

Then realized they were talking about an NHL goalie.

[youngRAPZ]

Just saw Ingram was cleared to return from Players Assistance Program.

My heart sank.

Then realized they were talking about an NHL goalie.

Wth is the players assistance program


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[JB7]

Just saw Ingram was cleared to return from Players Assistance Program.

My heart sank.

Then realized they were talking about an NHL goalie.

Wth is the players assistance program


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's for players with alcohol or drug addictions.

[youngRAPZ]

Just saw Ingram was cleared to return from Players Assistance Program.

My heart sank.

Then realized they were talking about an NHL goalie.

Wth is the players assistance program


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's for players with alcohol or drug addictions.

lol oh ok I’ve never heard of it I was thinking something else.


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[LoveMyRaps]

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[DreamTeam09]

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[WuTang_CMB]

Got his legs stronger.

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[GLF]

Got his legs stronger.

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Thanks for these. I love that he’s always wearing the ankle brace on both ankles now. It’s probably for the best. Also how do you know he got his legs stronger? Just basing it off the photos?

[WuTang_CMB]

Got his legs stronger.

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Thanks for these. I love that he’s always wearing the ankle brace on both ankles now. It’s probably for the best. Also how do you know he got his legs stronger? Just basing it off the photos?

yeah. I think they wanted to strengthen his lower body