Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

NBA Rumors: Brandon Ingram Has 'Minuscule' Chance of Being Traded to Warriors

Paul Kasabian

There have been many rumors and much speculation about Brandon Ingram's NBA future, whether it'll be with the New Orleans Pelicans or elsewhere. It's especially come into question recently with the 27-year-old set to enter free agency in 2025.

One place that doesn't seem like a likely landing spot is Golden State, per Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, who said that "any chance of him coming to Golden State is minuscule."

Poole made those remarks in the context of discussing the Warriors' Nov. 2020 trade for then-Oklahoma City Thunder wing Kelly Oubre:

"In the eight years since [Kevin Durant] departed, the Oubre deal is the only individual move made under the theory that it alone would be enough to keep the Warriors among the contenders. Every move since, including the addition of Chris Paul last summer, was made to supplement the roster rather than expand its core.

"Much of that approach is related to the Oubre experience. No longer are the Warriors willing to jeopardize their bottom line, sacrifice a bundle of draft picks or disrupt their roster for anyone who doesn't rate a consensus.

"Brandon Ingram, to cite an example, is among those who, according to sources, does not meet that level. There's enough pro/con that any chance of him coming to Golden State is minuscule."

Ingram, who is entering his ninth NBA season, shouldn't have a shortage of suitors, though. In 2023-24, he averaged 20.8 points on 49.2 percent shooting, 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported in July that the Duke product is seeking a four-year deal worth $208 million.

That deal hasn't come to fruition, but Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said in July the team wants him back.

"We've been really clear, we'd prefer Brandon stay with us," he told Sirius XM (h/t Jim Eichenhofer for the Pels' website). "And Brandon has been pretty clear, he prefers to stay with us."

However, Griffin also said the team is going to "play it out:"

"There is a financial reality to this. And where I think we can go in terms of keeping this group together, might not be as far as he and his agency would like us to be able to go. So for now, we're going to play it out. I think we're committed to each other and committed to seeing if this team can work in a way that makes sense."

But then a few days ago, Ingram posted a video of a motivational speaker imploring people to leave environments where others don't recognize their true value.

So, there's at least a little drama going on right now. However, it appears Ingram isn't going anywhere...yet.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic had this to say on the Pat McAfee Show in August.

Ultimately, all signs point to Ingram sticking around town by the time the Pels' season starts. That'll happen on Oct. 23 at home against the Chicago Bulls.

   

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