Just when it seemed like it couldn't get any worse for the New Orleans Pelicans, this team found a way to defy expectations once again. The Pels were finally close to full health again, with everyone available except for Zion Williamson and Jordan Hawkins, but that lasted just a game and a half.
Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III all played against the Phoenix Suns, and the team got an impressive home win as a result, giving a glimpse of this roster's full potential even with Zion and Hawkins on the bench. Yet another injury quickly overshadowed the small silver lining that victory provided, as Brandon Ingram went down with an ankle sprain the very next game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He turned his ankle just seconds into the second half against the Thunder and did not return. He's since been diagnosed with a high-grade low ankle sprain and is listed as out indefinitely. There's a very real possibility that Brandon Ingram might be traded before the deadline and, now, his final days with the Pelicans might be spent the same way he's spent a lot of his time in New Orleans: rehabbing an injury.
Brandon Ingram might not suit up for the Pelicans again
There's no official timeline for Ingram's return yet, as the team stated that his availability will depend on how he responds to treatment and rehabilitation. Typically, though, a high-grade ankle sprain will hold most NBA players out for 4-6 weeks.
We're just a week away from December 15, when free agents who signed new contracts in the offseason become eligible to be traded. While there can be deals made before then, that date essentially marks the beginning of trade season in the NBA. Ingram will certainly be in street clothes at that time.
This season's trade deadline is set for February 6, 2025, which gives Ingram a few weeks of cushion with that six-week timetable, however, the ambiguous reporting suggests that he could be out longer than the typical expectation. It didn't look too good for him either, as he had to be helped into the locker room, unable to put any weight on his affected leg. If he's unable to return before the deadline, it'll mean that teams considering acquiring him already have the full portfolio to analyze him.
So far this season, he's averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep, proving to be a steady presence amid the Pelicans' tumultuous campaign. He did build a better case for himself as a trade target for a contender hoping to add more scoring by showing his willingness to be a more consistent outside shooter this year. He's taking 6.4 triples a night this season, a significant uptick from his career average of 3.8 attempts from beyond the arc.
Of course, there's a chance that Ingram might not be traded this season. It was already going to be quite a feat to find a deal for him that made sense for both teams and would return an acceptable package for the Pelicans before this injury. This ankle sprain might just turn out to be the nail in the coffin for any potential Ingram trade this year.