Why an Ingram trade may not be the answer the 76ers are looking for
In all honesty, any potential turn-off from this trade proposal is very unlikely to arise out of the fact that Brandon Ingram is the centerpiece. If anything, the point of hesitation for the 76ers brass would be the draft capital they are supposed to send out in this deal.
An unprotected first-round pick seven years from now and a right to swap picks six years later may seem just the right price for a player of Ingram’s caliber, but they are equally risky additives on their own considering the massive value and insurance provided by first-round selections way beyond the current timeline.
For a franchise without much future-proofing as Philadelphia — notwithstanding Tyrese Maxey’s possible rise as a bona fide star — doubling down on winning now while shaving a huge chunk of their draft capital could be a suspended mistake later on.
Also, with the upcoming free agent class next year potentially giving the Sixers the star power they are desperate for, it could be even wiser to settle for less sterling returns instead that would not require the front office to mortgage the team’s future.
Ultimately, should the Pelicans tender an offer of the sorts for James Harden, the Philadelphia 76ers could do much worse than acquire someone like Brandon Ingram, especially considering the overarched edict in the organization to win a championship as soon as possible to keep Joel Embiid content in Philly. However, there are definitely some concerns about the extent of the draft capital in this proposal worth pondering hard on.
Grade: A-