Best trade destinations for Brandon Ingram?

[MessiahUjiri]

I think you are right. I actually don't hate it? Especially if they also replace Schroder with a combo-guard (think Simons since he is obviously available) in the starting lineup and run Ingram as the de facto point guard.

Simons - LaVine - Ingram - Murray - Sabonis

That could be a team that sneaks into the playoffs and is fun to watch. Simons/LaVine/Murray playing off of Ingram and Sabonis should be really hard to defend. Now, this team will also have the worst defense of all time, but I think we are about to see something like that, anyway?

I actually think Derozan would look great on Detroit, who need another creator/vet/scorer. There’s also shared history between Dwane Casey + Demar.

So a 3 team between SAC-TOR-DET:


Sacramento gets: Brandon Ingram
Detroit gets: Demar Derozan + ‘26 TOR 2nd
Toronto gets: Malik Monk + Tobias Harris + ‘26 DET 1st (lotto protected)

I think Detroit passes here pretty quickly, especially if it costs a first. Tobias would be a King if Det does that deal.. I would think Detroit looks at Ingram for Tobias instead of Demar. Age/shooting seem like a better fit.

I’d rather just keep Tobias as the vet leader, trust in Ivey developing. Then have Caris off the bench and maybe playmaking Ausar can show some..

That actually makes a lot of sense. Ingram would look nice in Detroit.

I do think the difference between Ingram and Tobias is more than a pick around #20. Maybe there’s a larger package with Beef Stew? IDK but seems interesting.

[jbk1234]

I do not think the tax is the issue, it is that they have long term money tied up in a bunch of players that do not really fit together, and fit only on specific rosters.

Correct, but they knew that when they traded for and extended Ingram so I think it's very unlikely that they'd give him away before seeing how the team plays. The reality is that of their four big contracts, Ingram is likely to be the most efficient scorer. They can and should move Barrett to the bench (he'll be on an expiring deal next summer). They need not extend Poeltl. If Barnes doesn't make a leap, they can take calls on him.

They have options. IQ is likely to be difficult to move, but he's also a solid fit with Ingram so it's not that pressing with him on the roster.

Poeltl has been extended through 2029-30

TOR has 3 players locked in: Scottie (5 yrs), Poeltl (5 years), Quickley (4 years). Ingram (player option in 2027-28) and/or Barrett (expires 2027) are far more likely to be moved than any of Barnes/Poeltl/Quickley.

I really don't see how trading the most efficient scorer (Ingram) helps anything at all, especially when he could be the key to making IQ work. The Raptors have tried to move Barrett and the market simply isn't there.

[oldncreaky]

Correct, but they knew that when they traded for and extended Ingram so I think it's very unlikely that they'd give him away before seeing how the team plays. The reality is that of their four big contracts, Ingram is likely to be the most efficient scorer. They can and should move Barrett to the bench (he'll be on an expiring deal next summer). They need not extend Poeltl. If Barnes doesn't make a leap, they can take calls on him.

They have options. IQ is likely to be difficult to move, but he's also a solid fit with Ingram so it's not that pressing with him on the roster.

Poeltl has been extended through 2029-30

TOR has 3 players locked in: Scottie (5 yrs), Poeltl (5 years), Quickley (4 years). Ingram (player option in 2027-28) and/or Barrett (expires 2027) are far more likely to be moved than any of Barnes/Poeltl/Quickley.

I really don't see how trading the most efficient scorer (Ingram) helps anything at all, especially when he could be the key to making IQ work. The Raptors have tried to move Barrett and the market simply isn't there.

One of Ingram, Barrett, Agbaji or Dick will have to move in order to duck the luxury tax (while shaving a little over $1M in salary).

If or how Ingram's efficiency helps, the net result for the team would still need to be good enough to consider building around. I'm mostly sceptical because I think Ingram is somewhere around the 20th-30th best offensive player in the league -- which means that building around Ingram is a ticket to mediocrity. Given we have not seen TOR's starters play a single minute together, I'm fine waiting until the TDL to move whoever.

[jbk1234]

Poeltl has been extended through 2029-30

TOR has 3 players locked in: Scottie (5 yrs), Poeltl (5 years), Quickley (4 years). Ingram (player option in 2027-28) and/or Barrett (expires 2027) are far more likely to be moved than any of Barnes/Poeltl/Quickley.

I really don't see how trading the most efficient scorer (Ingram) helps anything at all, especially when he could be the key to making IQ work. The Raptors have tried to move Barrett and the market simply isn't there.

One of Ingram, Barrett, Agbaji or Dick will have to move in order to duck the luxury tax (while shaving a little over $1M in salary).

If or how Ingram's efficiency helps, the net result for the team would still need to be good enough to consider building around. I'm mostly sceptical because I think Ingram is somewhere around the 20th-30th best offensive player in the league -- which means that building around Ingram is a ticket to mediocrity. Given we have not seen TOR's starters play a single minute together, I'm fine waiting until the TDL to move whoever.

My vote would be Dick, but settling on a core of Poeltl, Barnes, and IQ is the problematic part in my view. Barnes needs a Lopez or Turner type at the 5 and a top 10-15 guard to be the best version of himself. You either go get those guys, or you trade him while he still has good value.

I have Ingram as the only player on the roster capable of consistently forcing a defensive roster. Without a guy like that, the Raptors offense is going to be bad.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Projected core 4 (before Ingram) hasn't even played 50 games together since inception due to random injuries and/or tanking and yet they should immediately be blown up? At least give guys a chance to prove they can't play together before shipping them away and starting again

I've seen Miami make runs with a core that actually has proven they aren't good enough when it was better optimized, yet no one wonders in bewilderment why Herro and Bam aren't being shopped around as they enter next season without a Butler level talent replacing the hole he left.

Sometimes you need to give guys chances to get better, figure out how to play together or tune things in the margins rather than going scorched earth and possibly ending up with a collection of meh young rookies/sophmores (aka Utah until Ace arrived or Brk now).

It would have to be a total disaster for me to trade Ingram right after getting him when his value is a mystery box that is likely more suppressed than overinflated.

[gswhoops]

Projected core 4 (before Ingram) hasn't even played 50 games together since inception due to random injuries and/or tanking and yet they should immediately be blown up? At least give guys a chance to prove they can't play together before shipping them away and starting again

I've seen Miami make runs with a core that actually has proven they aren't good enough when it was better optimized, yet no one wonders in bewilderment why Herro and Bam aren't being shopped around as they enter next season without a Butler level talent replacing the hole he left.

Sometimes you need to give guys chances to get better, figure out how to play together or tune things in the margins rather than going scorched earth and possibly ending up with a collection of meh young rookies/sophmores (aka Utah until Ace arrived or Brk now).

It would have to be a total disaster for me to trade Ingram right after getting him when his value is a mystery box that is likely more suppressed than overinflated.

The OP was positing it as a midseason trade if things don't go well, to be fair.

[Snakebites]

Ingram is a pretty good player with an injury history being paid like a great one without an injury history.

That doesn’t generally bode well for value.