One NBA writer is proposing that the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans make a trade this offseason headlined around Andrew Wiggins and Brandon Ingram.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Warriors and Pelicans:
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, Kevon Looney, a 2025 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three-protected)
Golden State Warriors receive: Brandon Ingram
Wiggins averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists this season for the Warriors while shooting 45.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc and 75.1% from the free-throw line. The NBA champion will make $26.3 million next season.
Meanwhile, Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists for the Pelicans while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line. The one-time All-Star will make $36 million next season in the final year of his contract.
The Warriors lost to the Sacramento Kings in the 9-10 play-in tournament game. They need another dynamic scorer next to Stephen Curry and Ingram could fit that bill.
“Curry desperately needs someone who can consistently pull defensive attention away, and Ingram has that ability,” Buckley wrote. “The 26-year-old has gone three consecutive seasons of averaging better than 20 points and five assists per outing. Only 15 others can claim the same, and they’re mostly household names, even for NBA casuals.
“As for New Orleans, an early exit from this postseason could force the Pelicans to consider doing something different. The Pels might think they’ve taken the Ingram-Zion Williamson tandem as far as it can go, in which case they could entertain the idea of flipping Ingram for three plug-and-play rotation pieces and two future firsts to help them go star-searching in a separate deal.”
The Warriors are expected to try to trade Wiggins this summer, sources told Hoops Wire. Wiggins, 29, has career averages of 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Warriors.
Ingram, who began his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Lakers and Pelicans.
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