This season demonstrated that the Golden State Warriors can no longer rely on Klay Thompson as their No. 2 behind Stephen Curry. With Thompson ready to hit unrestricted free agency, the Warriors might take a different approach and sign a younger successor.
Stephen Noh of Sporting News offered a 2-for-1 trade, plus choices, with the New Orleans Pelicans, who are also trying to spice things up.
Warriors obtain Brandon Ingram.
Pelicans get Chris Paul, Moses Moody, 2025 first-round selection, and 2028 first-round pick.
The Warriors could capitalize on the Pelicans’ willingness to retool their squad following their first-round exit.
“Let me be quite clear: this will not be a summer of complacency. “It’s time to improve,” Pelicans Executive Vice President David Griffin stated during his farewell interview.
“Steph Curry and company might still have one more run in them. They lacked a consistent second scorer on the team, resulting in a terribly unsuccessful season. Ingram could provide that for them and be a good substitute if Klay Thompson leaves in free agency,” Noh said.
Ingram enters the final year of his $158 million, five-year contract. The Warriors must exercise their team options on Paul ($30 million) and Moody ($5.8 million) to match.
Marc Stein argued that the Pelicans may use Ingram as a trading asset.
“Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin has all but promised that New Orleans will be active in the marketplace in the wake of a first-round sweep inflicted by the Thunder and league sources say that Ingram’s exit is increasingly viewed by various league observers as an inevitability rather than possibility,” Stein wrote in the May 12 issue of Substack.
Noh sees Ingram as a potential Thompson replacement and a steady 20-point scorer behind Curry.
Need a Change of Scenery After Down Season?
Thompson and Ingram both had disappointing seasons, but the 26-year-old Ingram holds more potential compared to the 34-year-old Thompson.
Thompson experienced a turbulent season, marking the first time in 12 years he came off the bench. Despite playing 77 games, his stats were relatively modest at 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, his lowest scoring since his second year in the NBA. There’s talk of Thompson potentially moving to teams like the Philadelphia 76ers or Orlando Magic, who have cap space and are Eastern Conference playoff contenders.
In contrast, despite Ingram’s underwhelming season after being traded to the Pelicans from the Lakers, his numbers of 20.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds still outshine Thompson’s performance this season.
Brandon Ingram’s Confidence Dipped at Team USA
Interestingly, Ingram’s difficulties began at Team USA under coach Steve Kerr, who benched him in favor of New York Knicks’ shorter but strong rebounder Josh Hart.
Ingram’s confidence fell, and it carried over to the NBA season. However, in reflection, Ingram saw it as incentive to regain his All-Star form.
During his farewell interview, Ingram stated that this season has been the most difficult for him in a New Orleans Pelicans outfit, which has inspired him. “I can go back and blame the coaches.
I may blame everyone but myself, but I need to look in the mirror and ask myself what I truly need to do, how I can help this team. How can I assist the coaches and encourage the fans in New Orleans to believe in us again? That is my duty. That is my task.
Brandon Ingram: From Team USA up to this season, is probably the worst I have been in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform. I am motivated by that… I gotta look myself in the mirror… How do I get the fans of New Orleans to believe in us again? That's my job, that's my task pic.twitter.com/jk7DeIvAWF
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) April 30, 2024
Despite Ingram’s struggles this season, Noh believes the former All-Star wing is the Warriors’ greatest hope for a return to contention.
“If Curry is still capable of playing like a top-five player, then this could be the move that gets them back in the winner’s circle,” Noh stated.
Leave a Reply