Another early exit by the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Playoffs means that they have extra work to do in the summer. They are already being linked to Los Angeles Clippers star forward Paul George, but the pursuit of the talented two-way forward is not guaranteed to end up in success for the Sixers, who got bounced out of the first round of the 2024 NBA postseason by the New York Knicks.
Brandon Ingram is a potential trade target by the Philadelphia 76ers
Should nothing happen on the Paul George front of the 76ers, they could potentially pivot and turn their attention to a younger option in the form of New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram.
Via Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer:
Aside from the pipe dream that Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler would ask to be dealt directly to Philly, sources familiar with the Sixers’ thinking say that Brandon Ingram is the primary fallback plan. Ingram would have to be acquired in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans since he’s under contract for $36 million with a 15 percent trade kicker through the 2024-25 season. But the Sixers could absorb him without sacrificing any salary, a major benefit to the Pelicans, who could then operate with cap space and receive draft picks from the Sixers.
The former Duke Blue Devils star and second-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft only has a year left on his current deal with the Pelicans. Minus an extension with the Pelicans, Ingram is viewed by many as among those to generate plenty of trade attention in the upcoming offseason.
A trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Ingram appears to offer much more promise than what the status quo of Embiid-Maxey-Tobias Harris does, at least on paper. Plus, Harris is expected by many to be gone in Philly in the summer, so Ingram would be a viable replacement for Harris.
In the 2023-24 NBA season, Harris averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across 64 games.
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