Ahead of the trade deadline, the New Orleans Pelicans traded Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors, finally putting an end to the damned pairing of him with Zion Williamson. At the time, fans of the team were so relieved to finally get some closure regarding the Ingram era in the Bayou that it almost didn't matter what they got in return.
At first glance, the package the Pels got back in return for Ingram — a former All-Star and perennial 20-point scorer — may seem a little light. After all, they only acquired one single first-round pick, top-four protected in 2026 via the Indiana Pacers, a second rounder six years from now, and two veterans in Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown Jr. Once the new league economy, BI's expiring contract, and the reservations around his playstyle are factored in though, it makes much more sense why New Orleans couldn't command a better return.
Still, the trade can't really be properly graded yet. There are still plenty of moving variables that could drastically swing how this move is viewed in retrospect for both New Orleans and Toronto. The 2026 pick from the Pacers could literally end up being the fifth-overall selection next year or the 30th or not even convey at all, depending on how Indiana performs next season. Furthermore, Bruce Brown Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Whether the Pelicans re-sign him in the offseason will significantly impact the totality of the Ingram trade, and it looks like they've already got their answer in mind.
The New Orleans Pelicans appear like they plan on keeping Bruce Brown Jr. around
For what it's worth, it's been reported that both Brown Jr. and the Pelicans have some preliminary interest in extending their partnership. This makes sense for both parties. Since there isn't a lot of money expected to be available this summer and New Orleans now holds Brown Jr.'s Early Bird rights, it's highly likely that he'll be able to get more money by re-signing with the Pelicans than by joining a new team in free agency. For the Pels, retaining Brown Jr. prevents them from losing him for nothing. Even if he's not a part of their future plans, they could easily trade him later on to get some kind of return as opposed to just letting him walk away.
Still, even though it makes perfect sense to ink him to a new contract no matter what, it's not a guarantee. This summer, Brown Jr.s $23 million cap hit will come off their books. They might not want to fill up that part of the ledger immediately or may have different plans for it. Additionally, New Orleans won't exactly be hurting for depth next season. They're set to bring back 12 players next year, not counting Brown Jr. or their 2025 first-round pick.
That said, it looks like the Pelicans and Head Coach Willie Green do have plans for him moving forward. After a slow start, both metaphorically with his performance and literally with his minutes, Brown Jr.'s been given a much larger role lately. In his first five games with New Orleans, he averaged just 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 21.8 minutes a night.
Since then, he's grown more comfortable and has carved out a neat niche for himself in Green's rotation. In his last six outings, he's up to over 24 minutes per game, averaging 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in that time. He got the start at shooting guard and played 29 minutes in the Pelicans' latest game, a 127-120 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers that saw him tally 12 points, five assists, and five rebounds on 5-9 shooting.
Despite his early struggles, it's clear that New Orleans has a role in mind for Bruce Brown Jr. The more comfortable he grows into it in the remainder of this season, the more likely it'll be that the Pelicans offer him a new contract this summer.