The Toronto Raptors took the chance in an already crazy trade deadline to make a big change to their roster.
Brandon Ingram was long rumored to be on the way out of the Big Easy, but no one was prepared for the Raptors making a move for the 27-year-old forward for role players and a first-round pick.
While the forward expressed his excitement to play with his new team, his ankle injury will keep him out until the end of the month. Until then, the Raptors must focus on developing their players while taking down teams like the Miami Heat.
Masai Ujiri, long known to make surprising roster moves that eventually work out, explains the logic that went behind his decision to greenlight the trade.
Masai Ujiri points to Brandon Ingram’s abilities and fit as reasons for the Toronto Raptors’ decision
Ujiri is more than aware that the team isn’t contending this season, and developing Scottie Barnes should be at the top of the priority list.
Per Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star:
“We want to create two-way players that can really challenge on both sides of the court. Are all these good players going to end up being on a championship team? I would say no. Just because we made a trade now does not mean we cannot make a bigger trade two years from now, or three years from now, or a year from now. It doesn’t stop that at all.”
He belives that Ingram has what it takes to thrive in Toronto while also helping Barnes develop into a dynamic two-way player:
“Somebody that creates his own shot, somebody that you can go to in the fourth quarter, there are not many people that have that. We haven’t had many of those,” says Ujiri. “And when you mix it with a 6-9 guy that has a 7-3 or 7-4 wingspan, it amounts to something if you can push it.”
Ingram will be a great contributor for the Raptors once he returns from his ankle injury. The Duke alum averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the 18 games he played for the Pelicans this season.
With a roster that badly needs a player who can complement RJ Barrett on the wing, Ingram will be expected to add a new dimension to how the Raptors play.
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