2019/20 Offseason Idea: Brandon Ingram for the max

[Jamaaliver]

Sounds like BI won't be an option for us this summer.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to match any offer sheet for restricted free agent Brandon Ingram, according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com.

With the likes of Buddy Hield, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown, and Dillon Brooks signing extensions, Fedor adds that Ingram is the "one restricted free agent with appeal."

Ingram is averaging 24.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on the season.

RealGM Wiretap

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Offseason Plan for Non-Bubble Teams


Atlanta Hawks



Unlike most of the other teams detailed here, the Atlanta Hawks have an easy path to plenty of cap space.

They have just over $56 million in guaranteed salary committed to 2020-21, which is around two max slots less than the $115 million pre-hiatus projection for next year's cap.

Renouncing the rights to Chandler Parsons ($37.7 million cap hold) and Jeff Teague ($28.5 million) are no-brainers. And the plan for the space created by those renunciations should be one the Brooklyn Nets employed shortly after Sean Marks took over as general manager.

Atlanta should throw monster offers at restricted free agents around the league. There may be some concern about the eventual extensions of Trae Young and John Collins, but if the goal is winning now, it shouldn't be a big one.

It'd be difficult to pry Brandon Ingram away from the New Orleans Pelicans, but the Hawks should go for it (assuming New Orleans allows him to get to restricted free agency). Above-market offers for Beasley or Bogdanovic would make some sense, too.

This approach has a couple benefits.

First, it opens up the possibility of adding a good player on a similar timeline to a team that already boasts Young, Collins and Clint Capela. It's easy to imagine the fit of any of the above with those three.

Second, signing a restricted free agent to a huge deal can mess up the cap situation of the incumbent team or tie its hands during the moratorium on signing deals.

The regular season isn't the only time when competition exists in the NBA. The Hawks are in a unique position to go after solid names while simultaneously sticking it to teams around the league.

Bleacher Report

[Radioblacktive1]

I think the big question is do we believe we have a shot at the bigger fish in 2021? If the answer is no (it is), then this is, at the very least, worth a shot. Griffin matches, we shore up our bench and use the money on Trae and John’s supporting cast.

[Jamaaliver]

Red Flags for Every Top-10 NBA Free Agent

Brandon Ingram



Brandon Ingram is probably the closest comparison to Kevin Durant we have in the NBA.

With a 6'7" frame and 7'3" wingspan, Ingram's silky-smooth hesitation step and jumper can get him open looks over anyone. He's one of 14 players to put up 23.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while 22 or younger, and those numbers have come in his first All-Star campaign. He's the only player in that group shooting 38.5 percent from three.

His most important moment has probably been the victory he snatched from Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz in overtime on Jan. 16, a game in which he scored 49 points on just 25 shots.

When glancing at Ingram's offensive game, it's difficult to find a deficiency. His skill set has matched perfectly with Zion Williamson's.

It's on the other end that red flags pop up.

Ingram seems like an ideal 4 to pair with Zion in small-ball lineups. The only problem is that he's been a disaster when playing anywhere but the 3 in 2019-20.

He's a below-average rebounder for his size, is unwilling to box out and often gets shelled in the pick-and-roll. He's 10th in box-outs per game among Pelicans, trailing Josh Hart, Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick. Among teammates playing at least 15 minutes per game, only Lonzo Ball and E'Twan Moore are below him.

And while Ingram is 11th in ESPN's real-plus minus among small forwards thanks to his positive effect on the offensive end, his defensive real-plus minus ranks 69th at the position and 372nd overall.

There's no questioning what Ingram can do on the offensive end. But four years into his career, we have to start imagining this is simply who he is as a defender. To maximize his full value, he must be placed within a system that has a sturdy and fundamental approach on the preventing end that can mask his shortcomings.

A team such as the Atlanta Hawks could be disastrous.

Bleacher Report

[Spud2nique]

Ingram blows.

[PerkinsFor3]

Sounds like BI won't be an option for us this summer.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to match any offer sheet for restricted free agent Brandon Ingram, according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com.

With the likes of Buddy Hield, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown, and Dillon Brooks signing extensions, Fedor adds that Ingram is the "one restricted free agent with appeal."

Ingram is averaging 24.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on the season.

RealGM Wiretap

'the likes of ...dillon brooks', lmao

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

So, study these basic and advanced game logs since his ASG appearance.





If I'm David Griffin, do I reward Brandon Ingram with a max deal?

Regardless of what writers have written, anonymous NBA execs contributing to an ESPN "roundtable" article openly questioned in the lead-up to the ASG what would happen in NOP b/c they just weren't persuaded that Ingram had made a solid case that he was worth that kind of commitment.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28737693/nine-chaotic-moments-shake-suddenly-stable-nba

Me, I'm not persuaded that Ingram's done anything to make Griffin's decision any easier. If anything, the NOP earlier-than-anticipated exit from meaningful games in the bubble leaves a generally sour taste in the collective front office mouth, and it is notable that he didn't show up to lead the team to a victory. He scored some points. Nothing terrific. And in most cases, his points were far from enough to compensate for the bad numbers racked up in the other columns. Indeed, at best, you could say he had two high-quality games from ASG break until now, and even one of those is arguable.

The big question is what will NYK do. They should have the cap space to make a serious offer, and one that could be constructed to make it especially yucky for NOP to swallow.

Just my own conjecture, but Ingram's personality impresses me as someone who really does aspire to the big city lights. I think he'd absolutely love to see NYK make an offer.

ATL? Even if NYK passes on him, there remains a legitimate question whether Schlenk projects Ingram to be the future elite player that others have projected. It all depends on that analysis/conclusion (at the risk of stating the obvious).

Have no doubt in my mind that he will pursue BI and put on the table the max-est deal he can put on the table... if... big if... he considers him worth it. I'm one of those, though, who obviously has some doubt in my mind that Schlenk has calculated Ingram as being worth it.

Again stating the obvious, what high-tier talent Schlenk is able to bring in with this best-est cap space is going to rival his decision to take Trae and a 1st in exchange for Luka in terms of impact on this team's ultimate success/destiny. So it can't be understated how important it is for Schlenk to make a rational, sober decision if the opportunity presents itself.

[azuresou1]

I don't buy the Brandon Ingram breakout. To me, he's in that D'Angelo Russell tier of players where they're 'good' players that aren't legitimate game changers, and when they get paid the market rate for their talents (usually a max) they end up hard capping the team in mediocrity.

You guys know exactly the tier of players I'm talking about.