Brandon Ingram Trade Rumors: Jazz Linked to Pelicans Star; David Griffin Eyes Defense

The Utah Jazz are reportedly among the teams interested in trading for New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.

Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported the Jazz would likely need to include center Walker Kessler in any trade given president of basketball operations David Griffin's desire to add defense to the Pelicans roster.

That likely wouldn't be a problem for Utah, but finding a sensible framework for a deal could be difficult. The Jazz could send over Kessler, John Collins and a combination of young players and picks for Ingram, but that's unlikely to move the needle for a Pelicans team looking to finally make a postseason splash.

Griffin has not gotten past the first round of the playoffs since his arrival in 2019 and is likely starting to feel the heat from ownership. He already improved the roster this summer by adding Dejounte Murray, and trading Ingram for young players and a flotsam contract in Collins would be contradictory.

New Orleans has been understandably hesitant to offer Ingram a maximum contract extension, but trading him for a lesser return doesn't make much sense, either. The Pels could get a similar return by waiting until the trade deadline to move Ingram, giving them time to see if he can bounce back to All-Star form.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the "sense" is Ingram will start the season in New Orleans.

Utah, meanwhile, is traversing a middle-of-the-road strategy that doesn't really serve the long-term interest of the franchise, either. Trading Lauri Markkanen for a sizable haul and getting into the Cooper Flagg lottery mix makes more sense than pairing Markkanen with Ingram, a duo destined to lead a 42-45-win team for the next half-decade.

There may be interest from Utah in buying low on Ingram, but the Pels should hold onto him if Kessler is the best piece they can get in return.