Teammate’s Heartfelt Tribute to Brandon Ingram’s Transition to Toronto Raptors
The NBA trade deadline brought significant changes to the New Orleans Pelicans, particularly with the departure of long-time forward Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors. The trade involved the Pelicans acquiring Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round draft pick, and a 2031 second-round draft pick in exchange for Ingram.
Ingram’s Departure and Pelicans’ Decision
Brandon Ingram, who was on the brink of entering unrestricted free agency, reportedly sought a substantial salary of $50 million per year to stay with the Pelicans. Faced with this demand and Ingram’s injury-prone history that affected his on-court performance, the Pelicans made the strategic decision to part ways with the star forward before the offseason.
Despite showcasing dominance in his game, Ingram grappled with numerous injury setbacks, including a prolonged absence of over 30 games due to an ankle sprain. During his limited appearances, Ingram maintained an impressive average of 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists with shooting splits of 47/37/86.
Teammate’s Emotional Reflection
Following the trade announcement, Pelicans’ emerging star Trey Murphy III shared a poignant tribute to Brandon Ingram, revealing the profound impact Ingram had on him personally and professionally during their time as teammates.
Expressing his emotions, Murphy reflected, “It’s tough. It goes deeper than when I first got to the team. That was someone I looked up to since I was 14, 15 years old. When I first read the tweet, there were a few emotions there. Whatever’s best for him or whatever he wants to do for his career, that’s what I think is best too. He’s taught me a lot.”
Throughout their shared tenure in New Orleans, spanning four seasons, Ingram and Murphy collaborated to propel the Pelicans to two playoff appearances. Despite their playoff exits in the first round on both occasions, their partnership left an indelible mark on the team’s journey.