Memphis Grizzlies Receive: F Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G/F Dillon Brooks, F Kyle Anderson, G Grayson Allen, MEM 2021 1st Round Pick (Pick #17), MEM 2023 1st Round Pick (Protected Top-10)
Again, it seems very unrealistic that Brandon Ingram would be traded this offseason, but this is the kind of value the Pelicans would be looking at for him. Not only could they grab two rising young talents in Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen, but they could get a solid, veteran contributor in Kyle Anderson, as well as two first-round draft picks.
Dillon Brooks is a very valuable asset right now not only because he was the Grizzlies’ second-leading scorer during the 2020-21 season, but because he has slowly become a two-way stud in this league. In the postseason, Brooks was fantastic against the Utah Jazz and made a name for himself not only knocking down shots at a high rate, but being able to switch and guard numerous positions on the floor.
Grayson Allen also made a name for himself this year in the league, but he did so by being one of the more consistent three-point shooters all year long. Allen made 107 threes on the year in 50 games and shot 39.1% from beyond-the-arc. Kyle Anderson was another key contributor for Memphis all year long on both ends of the floor and averaged a career-high 12.4 points per game this season.
All three guys the Pelicans would get in this trade proposal could not only play right away, but they all fill various needs New Orleans has. They need shooting, which they get with Allen and Brooks, they need solid perimeter defenders, which they get with Brooks and Anderson, and the Pelicans need to find ways to add more high-level, young talents to their team, which they could potentially get with the two draft picks they get from the Grizzlies.
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On the other side of things, Memphis is missing that star-level talent next to Ja Morant, which is why acquiring Brandon Ingram could be the final piece to their puzzle. Since being traded to New Orleans in 2019, Ingram has made one All-Star appearance and has averaged 23.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and has shot 46.4% from the floor.
At 23-years-old and turning 24 in September, Ingram has quickly become one of the rising stars on the wing in this league and is only going to get better next to other high-level talents. Next to Zion, his ceiling is limited, but next to a versatile big man in Jaren Jackson Jr. and a playmaker in Ja Morant , Ingram could really grow into that perennial All-Star wing that he was destined to be.
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The Grizzlies obviously need to add another star-like talent next to Morant and Jackson Jr. but is trading for Brandon Ingram the right move for them? They would have to give up a ton of assets to get him and they have only improved year-to-year, so maybe making this trade with New Orleans is not the best thing Memphis can do this offseason.
Let’s dive in and take a look at if this trade not only makes sense for both the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans, but what this trade could mean for the futures of both organizations.
