Ranking 8 Brandon Ingram suitors by best fit

1. Golden State Warriors

Heavily involved in the Lauri Markkanen sweepstakes for some time, the Warriors reportedly made a 'significant' offer. However, new reports suggest the Utah Jazz star will remain with the team heading into next season. With that in mind, the Warriors have been preparing to make a big move for some time. Lauri Markannen isn't the only All-Star caliber player available on the market, though. For months, league circles have viewed Golden State as a potential destination for Brandon Ingram.

The Warriors have been linked to Ingram for months now, but have been aggressively pursuing Markkanen since the NBA Finals concluded. Unless anything significant happens, Markkanen appears to be in Utah heading into next season. As for Golden State, they've retooled their roster in the wake of Klay Thompson's departure after 13 seasons (11 played seasons) with the franchise. With one of the famed 'Splash Brothers' on the move, the Warriors wasted no time improving their roster.

The Warriors added Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De'Anthony Melton to their core group of players. Hield is arguably a better shooter than Thompson at this stage of their careers, Anderson provides a veteran playmaking defender, and Melton is an effective 'three-and-D'. While the Warriors roster looks competitive on paper, the franchise is still banking on a Jonathan Kuminga breakout to be a contender next season and beyond. Expect more aggressive moves from Golden State.

Assuming the Warriors strike out on Lauri Markkannen, they can head back to the drawing board with an offer for Brandon Ingram. Less valued than Markkanen across league circles, the Warriors can offer a package still centered around draft assets, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga or Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Warriors aren't just the most likely destination for the former All-Star, but they are arguably the best fit, with a major need for scoring alongside franchise centerpiece Stephen Curry.

Brandon Ingram's trade rumors have become one of the most fascinating discussions in this NBA offseason cycle. Ingram's going to be playing next season, but the question remains where that's going to take place. He could very well be playing on a contract year, with his long-term finances at stake above all else.