NBA Insider: Warriors Unlikely to Show Interest in Brandon Ingram Amid Trade Rumors

The Golden State Warriors are not likely to pursue New Orleans Pelican star Brandon Ingram this offseason, according to The Athletic's Anthony Slater.

Slater wrote that he "would not expect the Warriors to show interest" if Ingram hits the trade market ahead of the final season of his current contract with New Orleans.

The Warriors are still expected to be "aggressive" this offseason, and could show interest in the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler, Slater noted.

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 64 starts for the Pelicans last season. NBA insider Marc Stein previously named the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic as possible trade destinations if the Pelicans decide to shop him this summer.

Stein reported earlier this month that the Pelicans' decision to trade Ingram "is increasingly viewed by various league observers as an inevitability rather than possibility."

Ingram is still signed on at a cap hit of $36 million for next season, making Trey Murphy's $5.2 million club option a much more affordable option at small forward for the Pelicans next season.

New Orleans is also concerned about how Ingram fits with CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson, Stein reported.

Ingram had his healthiest regular-season campaign since his rookie 2016-17 year while shooting a career-best 49.2 percent from the field, although his trade value could have been impacted by his playoff performance as the Pelicans were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He has nonetheless been previously floated as a potential option for the Warriors, who will need a second scorer behind Steph Curry if they're looking to make it back to playoff contention next season.

Tim Kawakami reported for The Athletic last week that Ingram is "the right age and the right kind of player to step into a 1B role behind Curry, but it might be too much for the Warriors to outbid everybody else."

Kawakami speculated that the Warriors would need to give up Jonathan Kuminga, Chris Paul's non-guaranteed contract, draft picks "and probably more" in order to acquire Ingram.

Another obstacle for the Warriors is that whoever gives up assets for Ingram will likely want to have a long-term deal immediately in place. Without a new contract, Ingram would be set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025, and the Pelicans' price will likely be too high for a short-term rental.

Ingram is eligible for up to a four-year, $208 million extension this summer. That may be too steep of a cost for the Warriors after owner Joe Lacob said the team's plan is to avoid the luxury tax if possible in 2024-25, so they may need to look elsewhere to add to the team's offense this summer.