The Toronto Raptors are acquiring small forward Brandon Ingram in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. In return, the Pelicans are receiving Canadian center Kelly Olynyk of Toronto, Ontario, point guard Bruce Brown, and Toronto’s first two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft according to nba.com.
Ingram is joining his third NBA team after three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (2016 to 2019), and six seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he had a memorable 2019-20 season. In Ingram’s first season in New Orleans, he was not only an All-Star, but was named the NBA’s most improved player as well.
In 2024-25, Ingram has been out the last two months with an ankle injury. In 18 games, he averaged 22.5 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 5.2 assists per game. Ingram also has a field goal percentage of .468, three point percentage of .374, and free throw percentage of .855.
Olynyk is joining his seventh NBA franchise. He has previously played for the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz in addition to the Raptors.
This trade by the Raptors is one of uncertainty. There was expectations in New Orleans that the Pelicans could succeed with the trio of Ingram, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, but due to the injury factor to Ingram and Williamson, it simply never materialized. Now Raptors management will be hoping Ingram can build chemistry with RJ Barrett of Toronto and Scottie Barnes. Time will tell.
