Will Pelicans Miss Brandon Ingram vs Philadelphia 76ers?

Are the New Orleans Pelicans going to be without Brandon Ingram against the Philadelphia 76ers?

Mar 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) spins with the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (16) in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

It’s rare to see an NBA team deal with the amount of injuries to notable players, similar to the Philadelphia 76ers. Friday night’s opponent, the New Orleans Pelicans, can say they’ve had it just as bad as the Sixers throughout the 2024-2025 NBA season.

The veteran forward Brandon Ingram has made headlines for multiple reasons throughout the year. Not only has he been a popular name for the trade rumor market, but Ingram has dealt with multiple major injuries throughout the run.

Heading into Friday’s game, Ingram is in the midst of another stretch of absences. While he could return soon, the Pelicans don’t plan to have him in action on Friday night in South Philly.

Brandon Ingram will be out indefinitely after suffering a "significant low left ankle sprain," per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/gUQSdZkRdN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 8, 2024

According to the official NBA injury report, Brandon Ingram is out once again. He is dealing with a severe left ankle sprain. When he misses Friday’s game, it will be his 15th absence in a row for Ingram.

When the 2024-2025 NBA season started, Ingram was on the floor for the first 15 games of the season. He was averaging 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while knocking down 47 percent of his shots from the field. From three, Ingram was attempting seven shots per game, averaging 37 percent.

The veteran forward missed his first set of action on November 20 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He returned to take on the Golden State Warriors on November 22, but then another five-game string of absences followed.

Finally, Ingram was back on the court for the December 5 matchup against the Phoenix Suns. He checked in for 36 minutes and contributed to 29 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the two-point win. In the following game, Ingram went down with his latest setback just 18 minutes into his shift against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Not only did the Pelicans lose the game, but they lost Ingram for a long stretch. The Sixers won’t see Ingram on Friday night, but they have a matchup against New Orleans on the road on March 24. Perhaps, the veteran forward will face Philly for the first time this year then.

Dec 5, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) reacts to making a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Brandon Ingram Trade Rumors: What’s the Latest?

When it comes to the NBA trade rumor mill, Brandon Ingram has been one of the most popular players over the last couple of seasons. With the Pelicans consistently struggling to meet expectations in the Western Conference, any losing stretch leads the masses to believe Ingram belongs in a different situation.

Yet, despite the countless rumors regarding a potential Ingram trade over the years, he remains a Pelican.

Brandon Ingram getting hurt, seriously hurt (health-status to come later) at possibly the worst time….

Right around trade-season with his name as a marquee figure on the trade-block potentially for a star-talent upgrade for contenders.

Brutal!pic.twitter.com/54xkOWcXgb

— Ben Sig (@sig_50) December 8, 2024

This summer, Ingram is on pace to hit the free agency market. His five-year, $158 million contract is slated to expire. He’s expected to be one of the NBA’s top free agents at 27 years old.

With Ingram being on a struggling Pelicans team while in the final year of his current deal, it makes sense for the Pelicans to scan the market for a trade. After all, it would be in their best interest to get something out of Ingram parting ways with the team rather than losing him for nothing to the open market.

A recent update from ESPN suggests that the Pelicans have been open for business on the Ingram front, but the offers aren’t desirable enough.

“If another team had been motivated to offer equivalent talent that better fits the Pelicans' roster and payroll, they would have already made that trade,” ESPN reports.

While parting ways with New Orleans remains a likely option, a return to the Pelicans hasn’t been ruled out entirely. And in the event the Pelicans keep Ingram beyond next month’s trade deadline, they could still strike a sign-and-trade in the summer, resembling the Sixers’ decision to move on from Buddy Hield last summer.

With over 300 games to show for with the Pelicans, Ingram posted averages of 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists while knocking down 47 percent of his shots from the field and averaging 37 percent from deep. The veteran forward will get paid soon enough. The NBA is still trying to figure out who pays his next contract.

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