Grade the trade pitch: Creative idea lands the Kings Brandon Ingram
By Mat Issa
New Orleans Pelicans
In this deal, the Pelicans would essentially be trading Ingram for Vucevic, Harrison Barnes, and two protected first round picks.
In a recent post, I estimated Ingram's value to be the equivalent of four average first round picks (based on the Pascal Siakam trade). Here, the Pelicans are getting two relatively well-protected firsts, Barnes (a solid starter who could command a first on the open market), and Vucevic (who we've already established is a negative asset). So, even if both firsts convey, the Pelicans are getting three firsts and a bad contract for Ingram. That's not nearly the value the Toronto Raptors got for Siakam.
On top of that, Vucevic neither adds to the team's spacing (29.6% from three last year) nor addresses their rim protection problem. Last year, he was in the 27th percentile in block rate among centers (per Cleaning the Glass). That mark isn't much better than our very own Domantas Sabonis (19th percentile).
I think Barnes can still be a useful starting power forward (thanks to his outside shooting – 38.7% from three) on a team with a great paint-protecting center (to make up for his own lack of rim protection at the four). But, of course, that wouldn't be the case in this situation.
On the bright side, this move would open the door to some development opportunities for the Pelicans rookie center, Yves Missi.