The New Orleans Pelicans had a disastrous 2024-25 season. The team was forced to roster 25 different players, and its entire core dealt with injuries, resulting in the second-worst record in the league. The two positives that came from this were that the Pelicans would be getting a lottery pick to add to their young core and that the front office finally had a reason to pull the plug on Brandon Ingram's time in New Orleans.
BI had never played over 64 games in a season during his time with the Pelicans, and it felt like it was time to move on from the 27-year-old wing, especially with the emergence of Trey Murphy III.
If you need a refresher, New Orleans traded Ingram to Toronto at the deadline for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick. While some fans were happy with the return, it's clearer than ever that the Pelicans were the winners of this deal.
After the Raptors fired long-time President Masai Ujiri, the search began for their next President of Basketball Operations. The search concluded with the Raptors deciding to make an in-house promotion in the form of Raptors GM Bobby Webster.
Following this news, reports came out from a long-time Raptors beat reporter Josh Lewenberg, that many external candidates for this position pushed back on the moves Ujiri made. One of them even called the Ingram trade a "desperate Hail Mary".
This comment from another executive shows that the Pelicans were able to capitalize on the Raptors' desperation at the 2025 trade deadline.
The Raptors are going up tremendous pressure
When you look at the way the Raptors roster is constructed, they have some fun young pieces like Scottie Barnes, Jamal Shead, and Gradey Dick, but their core is mediocre. A roster of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and now Brandon Ingram sounds injury-prone and expensive for a likely play-in team.
The Raptors have the leagues 8th highest payroll, and have many people doubtful that they'll even make the playoffs next season.
The Pelicans front office may not have gotten a crazy return for a former All-Star who is still in his prime, but to be able to avoid paying him $40+ million may be a positive return in itself. If Pelicans fans had any doubt in their mind about trading away Ingram, that should all go out the window with executives around the league calling the Raptors out for being desperate.