Brandon Ingram makes perfect sense for the New York Knicks
Brandon Ingram will most likely not be traded this summer. The New Orleans Pelicans have absolutely no reason to do it. However, it’s fun to ask “What if?” every once in a while. If there was any inclination that he was available, the New York Knicks should do everything in their power to acquire him.
For starters, there is one true position of need for the Knicks this offseason: Small Forward.
Jalen Brunson has been a resounding success and is the point guard the franchise has waited so long for. Julius Randle, while frustratingly inconsistent, earned his second All-NBA appearance at power forward. Ingram would complete that trio perfectly.
The 25-year-old forward just put up a career-high 24.7 points on impressive .484/.390/.882 (career-high FT%) shooting splits. There are simply too many reasons that Ingram makes sense for this team. Let me get into a few.
Knicks are fishing:
This summer when the Knicks put their chips on the table and acquire a star on the trade market. There is already buzz surrounding New York adding Zach Lavine from the Bulls. The Pelicans could emerge as a trade partner, but likely for Zion.
However, if I was Leon Rose, I’d call the Pels and make my best offer for Ingram. The former No. 2 pick fits in perfectly with the timeline he’s built. He would potentially improve an offense that scored 116 points per game in the regular season. Having experience under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke would likely help in working with Tom Thibodeau.
If we actually see a star head to Madison Square Garden, Ingram must be at the top of the list.
Lots of ties:
There are also a couple of former teammates of Ingram currently in New York. The aforementioned Randle played with Ingram on the Lakers from 2016-2018. Furthermore, Josh Hart spent his first two years in the league alongside Ingram in LA.
A reunion between those three would probably be more than welcome. With each of them having some years to develop and carve out solid roles, the fit makes a lot of sense. If not now, Ingram is a free agent in 2025 so it’s worth considering for down the road.
What would the trade offer look like?
All things considered, here is what I would part with if I was Leon Rose:
RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Evan Fournier, Miles McBride, NYK 2024 FRP, DAL Protected 2024 FRP, MIL 2025 FRP for Ingram and Larry Nance Jr.
I would do this in a heartbeat. You would be able to reunite former teammates Zion and RJ in the Big Easy. As well, you also get Zion insurance in the form of Toppin. Nance could be useful off the bench. I’d really try to keep Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley out of the deal and instead add more first-round picks if need be.
Once again, this is all hypothetical. I cannot get my hopes up or else I would likely be very disappointed. But this would be a home run deal for the Knicks. It would also be excellent asset management from the Pels, considering he was included in the Anthony Davis blockbuster of 2019.
A Big Three of Brandon Ingram, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle would likely propel New York to the Top 3 of the Eastern Conference.
