Toronto Raptors Reportedly Interested In Acquiring Former All-Star

The Toronto Raptors are anticipated primarily to be sellers between now and the Feb. 6 commerce deadline. That would embody taking part in a task within the Miami Warmth discovering a brand new residence for Jimmy Butler.

Toronto is 14-32 and 5.5 video games from the tenth seed within the Jap Convention, aka the ultimate spot within the play-in match. It is a younger crew, with core gamers like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Gradey Dick, who’re 24 and youthful. Head coach Darko Rajakovic is in his second yr on the helm.

Nevertheless, whereas gamers like Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, and Chris Boucher could possibly be on the transfer earlier than the commerce deadline passes, NBA correspondent Marc Stein studies on his self-named Substack that the Raptors are thinking about buying Brandon Ingram.

The previous All-Star has solely appeared in 18 video games this season. In line with Will Guillory of The Athletic, as he works his method again from a big low left ankle sprain, Ingram has but to get cleared for contact drills.

The six-foot-eight ahead is averaging 22.2 factors, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season. Ingram’s additionally taking 6.4 threes and changing them at a 37.4 p.c clip.

The eight-year veteran is producing 19.5 factors, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per sport for his profession whereas taking pictures 36.3 p.c from behind the arc on 3.8 makes an attempt.

The 27-year-old North Carolina native is on an expiring contract price barely north of $36 million for the present marketing campaign. The New Orleans Pelicans weren’t thinking about providing Ingram a max deal over the summer season, per Christian Clark of Nola.com.

With the 2 sides unable to succeed in an settlement and New Orleans eager to elevate gamers like Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, it sought to commerce Ingram. Nevertheless, the franchise didn’t discover a proposal it felt was price accepting.

Ingram’s expiring contract and lack of availability this season will negatively impression what the Pelicans get in return for him. Ravaged by accidents, New Orleans is 12-35. That is the second-worst document within the Western Convention and third-worst within the NBA.

The prospect of getting a high choose on this yr’s draft, which options potential NBA stars like Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey, additional incentivizes the Pelicans to maneuver Ingram by the commerce deadline.

If the Raptors need the previous Duke Blue Satan, the associated fee should not get in the best way of a transfer that may sign their intent to take a significant step ahead subsequent season.