Why Brandon Ingram's link to Western Conference contender makes sense

Brandon Ingram's future could become a significant storyline before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The New Orleans Pelicans forward is expected to be available via trade, assuming a team is willing to meet the Pelicans' asking price. 

According to SNY's Ian Begley, the Denver Nuggets could be a suitor for Ingram. Mike Malone's team has struggled with consistency in recent weeks and is reportedly looking to improve its roster.

"Re: The Athletic report on the Nuggets’ search for a scorer, I’ve heard Brandon Ingram is another player among the group on their radar," Begley reported on X. "FWIW: the clearest pathway for Denver to make a trade for a big scorer with a significant salary would be to include Michael Porter Jr. in a deal."

Ingram would suit the Nuggets' style of play. His ability to score across all three levels would make him a genuine go-to threat in the half-court, especially with Nikola Jokic quarterbacking the offense at the top of the perimeter. Furthermore, Ingram's size and length would make him a valuable help defender within Malone's system.

Still, Denver must do its homework. Ingram is known to prefer working on the interior, so if they need a three-point threat, he might not be the right fit. However, as a unit, the Nuggets aren't a three-point-heavy team, which is why Ingram projects to be such a good target for them. 

Sometimes, a team needs a fresh face to give the rest of the roster a jolt. Denver has lost valuable contributors over the past 18 months. Bringing in a new, borderline All-Star talent would likely galvanize the rest of the locker room, even if it meant parting ways with Michael Porter Jr. 

Over his 18 games this season, Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He's shooting 51.4% from two-point range, taking 12.1 attempts per game. He's also shooting 37.4% from three-point range on 6.2 shots per night. It's likely he would slide into the Nuggets rotation as their second or third option on offense. He's used to that role from his time with the Pelicans. Therefore, you can feel confident he would have a similar level of production.

Although Ingram is not a leading star in the NBA, he could help elevate the Nuggets back into contention. He's a proven commodity in the league and a genuine scoring threat. If the Nuggets are looking for an immediate boost, Ingram could be an ideal target.