That didn’t take long.
Less than a week after acquiring Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans, the Raptors and the veteran wing agreed on a three-year, $120-million US contract, ESPN first reported Tuesday afternoon.
The deal includes a player option for the final season, meaning if Ingram returns to all-star form and can stay healthy, he will have a chance at another payday before his 30th birthday.
For the Raptors, it’s a reasonable bet on the most talented scorer on the roster meshing with franchise player Scottie Barnes.
Toronto dealt Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a first-round pick in 2026 from the Indiana Pacers and a second-round pick to New Orleans for Ingram, who averaged 23 points per game in five and a half seasons in New Orleans.
Ingram was the No. 2 pick of the 2016 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
He has not played since Dec. 7 due to an ankle sprain, but has joined the Raptors and was getting up shots before the team’s game Sunday in Houston.
Toronto plans to have him in the lineup for at least some of the remaining games post-all-star break. Ingram will be introduced to the Toronto media before Wednesday’s game against Cleveland.
Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said when the trade was made that the team believes Ingram is just entering his prime and that the franchise had been high on him for years.
“Brandon is a player we followed for a long time. Obviously, he was a highly touted amateur player. Attended Duke University, number two pick. All the accolades, you know, we think a fresh start in Toronto would really be a spark in his career,” Webster said.
MORE TO COME