in ,

B/R’s Trade Proposal Sends Brandon Ingram to Hawks, Trae Young Headed to New Orleans

Both Trae Young and Brandon Ingram might be traded by their respective teams this offseason, and Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has proposed that these two clubs should consider swapping the players.

Buckley proposes that the Atlanta Hawks trade Trae Young to the New Orleans Pelicans for Brandon Ingram this offseason.

“Ingram is a 26-year-old with an All-Star nod and a Most Improved Player award on his resume,” Buckley wrote. “He’s on a five-year run of averaging at least 20 points and four assists per game, a feat matched by only a dozen other players. He also hasn’t cleared 70 games since his rookie season, has lost a not-insignificant amount of scoring and three-point volume and needs a new contract between now and next summer.”

“The Pelicans, who could use a new playmaker, are reportedly planning to shop Ingram around. A challenge trade between these teams could be wildly entertaining if either unlocked something in one of these players that the other never could.”

Ingram, who began his NBA career with the Lakers, averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this season while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from deep, and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He is eligible to sign an extension this offseason.

“Young’s open-market value feels impossible to pin down,” Buckley added. “He’s a three-time All-Star with some of the gaudiest stat lines around, but he’s also a glaring defensive liability and one of the more ball-dominant players in this league. Rather than attempting to calculate his trade value in terms of picks, prospects, and financial relief, Atlanta could always simplify the process by taking back a similarly polarizing player.”

One of the top scorers and passers in the league, Trae Young posted averages of 25.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.8 assists this season, with shooting percentages of 43.0% from the field, 37.3% from three-point range, and 85.5% from the free-throw line. He recorded 37 double-doubles in 54 games.

Young inked a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. He’s set to earn $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

Throughout his career, he has averaged 25.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game. By comparison, Brandon Ingram has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.