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Earlier this week, the New Orleans Pelicans said they are interested in trading up to the #2 or #3 pick in the NBA Draft and are willing to part ways with either Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram to make it happen. The Hornets own the #2 pick and are in the process of determining whether or not to draft Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. Today, Michael Jordan agreed to sell his majority stakes in the organization but will stay on through the NBA Draft, and the start of free agency, and before he leaves his ownership role, he may have one more big decision to make.
This afternoon, Shams Charania of The Athletic, reported o that if the Hornets were to trade away the #2 pick in next week’s draft, they’d prefer to trade for Brandon Ingram, over Zion Williamson.
Brandon Ingram might not be the flashiest player in the world, but he is a productive scorer and would be the only player on the roster that you could isolate, and ask him to get a bucket in crunch time. Last year, Ingram only played in 45 games, but averaged 24.7 points, on 48% shooting, including 39% from behind the arc. During his time in New Orleans, the most games that Ingram has played in has been 62, so while it’s not to the same extent as Zion, Ingram is a health risk, and you have to weigh if possibly trading for him. For his career, Ingram has averaged 19.3 points, on 46% shooting, and is a career 36% three-point shooter.
The closer and closer we get to the draft, the more the rumors are going to heat up, but it’s going to take a lot to convince Charlotte to give up the right to draft a prospect, that in any other draft would go #1, for an explosive rim runner that is constantly hurt, or trade for a productive scorer, who is also hurt. That more than likely means that they will keep the pick, and draft a potentially franchise-altering player to pair with LaMelo Ball.
