The San Antonio Spurs have taken the initial steps toward being a contender, with recent acquisitions Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes providing senior leadership to the West’s weakest club last season. The Spurs are adopting a cautious approach to building a winning culture around Victor Wembanyama, with Paul and Barnes being the initial acquisitions.
To expect Paul and Barnes to transform the Spurs into a playoff team is a tad optimistic given that they were role players on non-playoff teams last season, which means San Antonio might use one great acquisition to further improve their championship-winning core. They could get that in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and add a certified scorer to their squad, which they’ve been wanting to move lately.
Trade Details:
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Brandon Ingram.
New Orleans Pelicans acquire Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins, 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2028 First-Round Pick (BOS), and 2029 First-Round Pick (SAS, Top-10 Protected).
This trade allows the Pelicans to add a starting-caliber centre and a wing scorer to their bench, as well as a healthy selection in exchange for Ingram. The Spurs own assets that do not belong to them, as well as a protected pick for when Wembanyama is at his peak performance.
The San Antonio Spurs Prepare For A Playoff Fight.
The Spurs’ decision to make Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes their key offseason signings demonstrates their belief that the growth of Wembanyama and Devin Vassell would allow them contend for a playoff spot, with the veterans providing a winning structure. But talent is an important element of being competitive in the West, and this transaction allows the Spurs to add a verified on-ball wing scorer.
Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists last season, but he has proven himself as a player capable of averaging 20 points on a playoff-caliber team. The Spurs might benefit from his scoring abilities, as Barnes is unreliable and Paul isn’t an effective scorer at this stage of his career. Furthermore, it relieves burden on Devin Vassell, who is still growing as an on-ball scorer.
Ingram isn’t a great defender, but he could see better results under a team defensive system lead by Wembanyama in the paint. It provides the Spurs with numerous dimensions, as they can consistently score and defend based on the abilities of their stars. A distributor like Paul would help simplify Ingram’s looks when he’s functioning off the ball, and Ingram also possesses exceptional distributing talents.
The New Orleans Pelicans Add Assets and Players.
The Pelicans’ starting lineup includes C.J. McCollum, Zion Williamson, and Dejounte Murray, who is the team’s newest addition. Ingram appears to be surplus to requirements for what they’re attempting to do, as Herb Jones must maintain his starting position as the team’s primary defensive option. Moving Ingram for two players who can contribute and a slew of draft picks would be an unbeatable trade for the Pelicans.
Collins averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as Wembanyama’s backup last season, demonstrating his ongoing improvement as an NBA-caliber centre. Collins would be an improvement over youngster Yves Missi or the aging Daniel Theis, strengthening the team’s centre rotation with more alternatives.
Keldon Johnson averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, but he appears to have fallen out of favour in San Antonio, with the 2020 Olympian allegedly on the trading block. He would fit into the Pelicans’ wing rotation, providing a scoring punch off the bench, likely alongside Trey Murphy III. If the Pels desire to move on from CJ McCollum’s deal, the draft selections acquired in this trade might be used to add a key player in the future.
Both Teams Add Power To A Competitive Western Conference.
This deal significantly improves both teams’ chances of competing in the Western Conference this season. The Pelicans add more rotational depth to a franchise that has had many seasons derailed by injuries to its stars. Having more playable depth is an undeniable advantage for the club as it attempts to secure a top-six seed for the first time in the Zion Williamson era. The picks may not be valued as individual assets, but combining them might allow the Pels to make a massive purchase down the line.
The Spurs are one of the most pick-rich teams in the NBA right now, so the price will not deter them. Ingram is incredibly talented and can thrive in the appropriate environment. He may be a tremendous No. 1 offensive option for the Spurs, given how well the team watches Wembanyama’s rotations and exertion to avoid injury. Along with Paul, Vassell, and Barnes in the lineup, Ingram might take on more offensive responsibilities as a scorer and creator.
Leave a Reply