Picturing a sign-and-trade deal for the Atlanta Hawks to acquire Brandon Ingram.
Once you take away Anthony Davis, who has all but signed the dotted line on his inevitable extension with the Lakers, Brandon Ingram is the best player in 2020’s free agency class. The Atlanta Hawks, along with nearly every other team with sufficient cap space, should be interested in the 22-year-old All-Star, but the Pelicans do have the ability to match any offer he gets.
Ingram’s ability to score both with and off the ball makes him an ideal second star to play next to Trae Young, and thankfully, there is still a way for the Hawks to grab him. Since the Pelicans would be foolish to let the former second overall pick walk for nothing in return, the two teams could work out a sign-and-trade deal.
Atlanta, with the league’s most cap space and a roster full of young talent, are in a great position to do such a move and could offer enough to have the Pelicans stay on the line for longer than you may think.
Although John Collins has the highest trade value on the team (besides Trae), he’s due up for an expensive extension as well, and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for New Orleans to dump Ingram only to pay JC.
Instead, the Hawks could center the trade around their two top-ten picks from a year ago: De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish. Draft considerations and sweeteners like Bruno Fernando and perhaps even Kevin Huerter would at least make it an offer worth considering for the Pelicans’ front office.
The Hawks would pair two of the youngest offensive stars in the league together with Young and Ingram, while New Orleans would bolster their young core while keeping their books open for their other studs nearing their respective paydays.
It’s an all-in, win-now move for the Atlanta Hawks, and one they certainly should be considering this off-season.
Should the Atlanta Hawks strike a deal for Brandon Ingram?