Paul Pierce thinks the Toronto Raptors can construct a stable workforce round Brandon Ingram, urges to commerce for Miami Warmth star.
This 12 months’s NBA Commerce Deadline featured among the craziest offers in current historical past. Whereas Luka Doncic’s transfer to the LA Lakers and Jimmy Butler’s five-team commerce to the Golden State Warriors made main headlines, the Toronto Raptors quietly added an elite participant.
The 2019 NBA champions acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans in change for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round choose, and a 2031 second-round choose.
Contemplating Ingram continues to be sidelined because of an ankle damage, many questioned the Raptors’ resolution to amass him, however former NBA star Paul Pierce is all for the transfer.
Even with Ingram’s Raptors debut at the least a month away, the group nonetheless handed him a three-year, $120 million contract extension.
As soon as once more, the choice obtained combined reactions from followers, however former Boston Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have excessive hopes for Ingram.
KG mentioned: “Toronto is a workforce that you may’t sleep on, as a result of they’ve an awesome fan base, no matter who’s taking part in, or no matter, they help their workforce. However then they offer you a lot vitality that should you play for the Raptors, bro. Man, they carry you across the metropolis. Ingram goes to like that up there.”
Pierce added: “I believe with Ingram man, he’s an All-Star caliber participant. He simply appeared like he misplaced his motivation down there in New Orleans. And I simply really feel like typically you want a brand new place to be in to get contemporary air, to get that again.
“So I like that workforce of him with Scottie Barnes. I don’t know in the event that they’re going to make the playoffs this 12 months, in all probability not, for the Play-In, however you’ve obtained one thing to construct on. You’ve obtained some constructing blocks.”
The 2024-25 NBA season is probably going over for the Raptors as they enter the All-Star break with a 17-38 file, however they will possible purpose for a playoff push subsequent season with Ingram because the focal constructing block.
Regardless of being a vital contributor to their 2022 NBA Championship run, the Warriors didn’t assume twice earlier than parting methods with Andrew Wiggins in a blockbuster commerce to amass Jimmy Buckets.
Pierce thinks Wiggins could possibly be open to a transfer to Canada to play alongside Ingram for the Raptors.
“Attempt to convey Wiggins on the market. He’s a veteran now who’s received. Now he may give him that sport. He’s from there, he can return return residence, and provides them some sport. Deliver veterans in, like Houston did. That is likely to be the transfer for them in the summertime.”
It’s evident that the Raptors are nonetheless a number of strikes away from competing for an NBA Championship, however they may have an energetic summer time forward of them.
Furthermore, they’ve nice odds to land the No. 1 general choose within the 2025 NBA Draft. In the event that they draft an elite massive like Cooper Flagg and pair him with the likes of Ingram and Wiggins, they compete for a chip sooner reasonably than later.
