The Golden State Warriors don't look like title contenders anymore despite being just two seasons removed from their triumph in 2022. The roster doesn't look the same either, with Klay Thompson leaving the franchise after 13 seasons and four titles, pushing Golden State into a new era in the twilight of Stephen Curry's career. Despite making strong roster moves, the Warriors need a co-star to replace the production of not only Klay but also Jordan Poole from their 2022 title team.
The New Orleans Pelicans are at an impasse with Brandon Ingram, with the former All-Star forward's future with the team looking uncertain as he enters a contract year. The team added Dejounte Murray this summer and needs to add a big man to solidify their roster as contention-worthy. The Warriors could land Ingram in a proposed trade provided the Toronto Raptors join a deal that could leave all sides happy.
Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, 2025 First-Round Pick (GSW)
Toronto Raptors Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, 2025 Second-Round Pick (GSW), 2026 Second-Round Pick (GSW), 2028 Second-Round Pick (NOLA)
The Warriors get the co-star they need while the Pelicans get a big man and a versatile swingman from the Raptors who can enhance their defensive strengths. The Raptors bring home Andrew Wiggins, which could provide a boost to the forward whose form has fallen off a cliff in recent seasons due to family issues.
The Warriors Add A Much-Needed Co-Star For Stephen Curry
The Warriors have been relying on Stephen Curry more in recent seasons than they ever did during their championship heyday. Klay's injuries and regression along with Kevin Durant's departure meant Curry's offensive burden over the last five seasons has massively increased. Klay still was providing solid offensive p[production with excellent shooting but not at the level of a secondary option. Jordan Poole provided that but locker room issues prompted him to be traded away at the start of last season.
Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists last season in a down year where he also showed more team-friendly habits on offense. He's taken a visible jump as a passer, facilitating plays with accurate dimes when required, though he's not a point forward by any means. His passing skills would be right at home in the Warriros motion offense, along with his slippery off-ball scoring abilities as well.
Losing Wiggins will have a toll on the Warriors defensively, but they're hoping a bigger role for Jonathan Kuminga could help him be a more impactful defensive presence alongside Draymond Green. With a host of veteran talents signed this summer and the presence of breakout rookie Brandin Podziemski, this deal sets the Warriors up to be contenders in the short and long term.
The Pelicans Fill The Glaring Holes On Their Roster
The New Orleans Pelicans have loaded the top of their roster with multiple 20-point scorers, with Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and CJ McCollum. Keeping another 20-point scorer like Ingram on this core might lead to diminishing returns for the Pelicans, so trading him away for two complementary pieces that can enhance the stars around them would be an ideal move, especially with Ingram's contract expiring at the end of the season.
Instead of paying Ingram a sum they won't be comfortable with given the talent on the roster or losing him for nothing, the Pelicans maximize losing Ingram by acquiring Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown. Olynyk is one of the best stretch bigs in the NBA and would create a nice dynamic in a rotation with Daniel Theis or Yves Missi, with Brown being a hustle piece to fill rotational minutes across three positions when required.
Olynyk averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists last season, making winning contributions on both the Jazz and the Raptors, though his talents have gone under the radar due to the poor team records he's had. The same goes for Bruce Brown, who was traded by the win-now Indiana Pacers to the Raptors when they decided to tank, averaging 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists last season.
The Raptors Bring A Hometown Hero To Their Franchise
The expectations of Andrew Wiggins when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2014 don't matter 10 years later. He has had a great career he was a flawed No. 1 option but an excellent rotational piece for a winning franchise when he got his chance and has a title to show for it. But his numbers have been on a steady decline over the last two seasons, with personal issues in Canada affecting Wiggins' focus in Golden State.
This would be the perfect opportunity to bring Wiggins to play in his home country so he can have a more supportive fanbase around him and be close to his family. He averaged 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds last season but continues to show flashes of a consistent jumper and elite perimeter defense. If Coach Darko Rajakovic can extract what Steve Kerr did in 2022 from Wiggins, the Raptors will be on a winning timeline sooner than expected.
A four-man unit with Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Wiggins, and Scottie Barnes would be competitive in the East, especially with Jakob Poeltl also at center. The Raptors have shown they won't bottom out to tank for a high draft pick, so this deal might be the best way for them to move forward with winning in the short term while also developing the young stars on the roster.
What Grade Should This Trade Be?
All three teams get something out of this deal, but there are rarely any NBA trades where one team doesn't feel like they got the better of the other team. You could argue the same has happened here if you look at the trade from different lenses.
Golden State Warriors: A
There isn't a reason to complain for the Warriors unless they're upset at losing Gary Payton II for the second time in three seasons. Ingram is a solid fit and upgrades the competitive fortunes of the franchise considerably in the short term.
They have to worry about his next contract afterward, but the Warriors have already made their salary bill a lot leaner by letting Klay and Chris Paul go. This is a solid deal for them where they don't even lose any real draft capital for a disgruntled Ingram on the Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans: B
If you look at the consequences of winning for the Pelicans, this deal definitely makes them stronger despite the loss of a talent like Ingram. Basketball is about fit, and Ingram has become obsolete for the Pelicans with all the offensive talents on the roster and the young wings who could thrive with additional opportunity.
Giving Herb Jones and Trey Murphy a bigger role while incorporating Brown into the rotation with Olynyk as the starting center makes them much better as a roster instantly. But they could get more value for a player of Ingram's caliber, especially when he's going to a Conference rival.
Toronto Raptors: B-
The Raptors are the third team and walk out with the kind of unspectacular return that many would expect. They could generate more value for Brown and Olynyk in separate trades and are taking on a poor contract like Wiggins as a risky bet on rehabilitating him.
The second-round pick haul is plentiful and NBA teams have shown that these picks are becoming more and more valuable through recent trades around the NBA. Wiggins is an attractive fit for the Raptors given their penchant for helping wings thrive, so this deal does make sense and could be great for them as well.
