An NBA analyst has suggested that the Houston Rockets should try to acquire Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason.
Zach Buckley from Bleacher Report proposed the following trade scenario:
The Trade: The Houston Rockets would send Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, and the No. 3 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Brandon Ingram.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pelicans are expected to actively explore trading Ingram this offseason.
Ingram has one year remaining on his contract, with a salary of $36 million for the next season.
A one-time All-Star, Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists for the Pelicans this season, shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from three-point range, and 80.1% from the free-throw line.
The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of this year’s playoffs, while the Rockets missed the postseason.
Houston holds the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and could use it to trade for a “star.”
“So, why not bring in Ingram? He might not be a tier-one star—and also doesn’t carry a tier-one-star price tag—but he has consistently averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers per game over the past five years,” Buckley wrote. “Additionally, his 47.2/37.2/84.7 shooting percentages would have made him Houston’s top scorer and second-best distributor, while tying him for third in perimeter shooting volume.
“Rockets fans might hesitate to include two prospects (Eason and Whitmore) plus the No. 3 pick knowing Ingram needs a new deal by next summer, but this assumes Houston would get a commitment or at least have a strong indication of securing one before making the offer.”
Ingram has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists with the Los Angeles Lakers and Pelicans. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
