For the second time in his 495-game NBA career, Brandon Ingram is on the move via a trade. The New Orleans Pelicans sent the former Duke forward north of the border after a deal with the Toronto Raptors in a move reported on Wednesday.
The deal, which send the 27-year-old from Kinston to his third NBA team, will bring Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, a first and a second round pick back to the Crescent City. Many analysts and perhaps some North Carolina sports betting enthusiasts were left perplexed. Toronto is well out of playoff contention at 16-35 (.314) this season, not much better than New Orleans, which is last in the Western Conference at 12-39 (.235).
Now that we know where Ingram will take his talents for the remainder of the season, BetCarolina.com wanted to look at what awaits the 27-year-old north of the border as he suits up for his third team in nine seasons in the association.
Brandon Ingram Trade Rumors
Team | Percentage Chance | Odds |
Toronto Raptors | 100% | --- |
Until this trade, BetCarolina.com had not only offered the best NC sports betting promos but also exclusive odds on where Ingram might wind up. In this case, āThe fieldā would have been the play because the Raptors were not considered to be among to top contenders to land the former Blue Devils standout.
Wednesdayās move comes five years after the Los Angeles Lakers dealt Ingram to the Pelicans in a trade that eventually netted L.A. superstar forward Anthony Davis, helping clear the way for the team to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
This year, Ingramās 305-game run with New Orleans ends, setting the stage for what could be a short stint with the Raptors as NBA betting heats up. The ninth-year veteran is set to be an unrestricted free agent at seasonās end, when his five-year, $158.253 million deal runs out. He signed that contract with the Pelicans before the 2020-21 NBA season, when he was coming off of his lone All-Star selection.
What Happens Next With Brandon Ingram?
Entering Thursday, the Raptors are 5.5 games out of the final play-in spot in the East with 31 games to play. Thereās little chance that the Raptors, who are above only two teams in the East, will suddenly spring into playoff contention now that they have Ingram and his 27.3 career win shares. BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook has Toronto at +100000 odds to win the East.
That raises the question as to whether Toronto general manager Bobby Weaver hopes to use the teamās remaining games as a dry run for next season. The Raptors should have plenty of cash to splash during the free agency window this offseason, potentially landing Ingram long term.
For now, what we know for sure is that Ingramās immediate future will see him playing for a team thatās not much better than the one heās leaving, as the veteran out of Duke is officially a member of the Toronto Raptors for at least the rest of the league season.
BetCarolina.com will keep up with developments on Ingram and weāll keep reviewing NC sportsbook apps for you.
USA Today photo by Stephen Lew
