Windhorst: 'Sounds Like' Brandon Ingram Will Land 9-Figure Contract from Raptors

The Toronto Raptors were reportedly thinking beyond the rest of this season when they traded for Brandon Ingram.

Toronto acquired Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick and a second-round pick, and it was somewhat surprising to see the Raptors in a buyer's position for someone who is signed through just the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.

However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on his Hoop Collective podcast (42-minute mark) that "it sounds like they are going to do a multiyear deal that is worth nine figures. I'll just leave it at that."

That the 16-35 Raptors who look nothing like playoff contenders this season are thinking beyond the upcoming stretch run makes more sense and also follows a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.

Charania noted on SportsCenter (3:25 mark) that the Raptors are "trying to have Scottie Barnes there. They want to really build around him. For Brandon Ingram, last year of his contract, he's going to find a home, potentially, for the foreseeable future."

Barnes is signed through the 2029-30 campaign and is just 23 years old. Having him and the 27-year-old Ingram on similar timelines would allow the front office to build around them as cornerstones as it attempts to reestablish Toronto as an Eastern Conference contender.

However, that will require Ingram to remain healthy.

He has appeared in just 18 games this season and hasn't played more than 64 games since he was a rookie in 2016-17. His overall talent is not in question, but the Raptors will look for more durability moving forward.

That is especially true if they give him a nine-figure contract.