New trade intel has the 76ers spoonfed with an irresistible option

The Philadelphia 76ers will almost certainly approach the offseason like a wrecking ball, their chins held up under the backing of having the second-biggest spending power in the league. Free agency has unofficially began, but the franchise has definitely devised a more eclectic strategy to improve the roster as much as possible.

No other team under the same win-now mandate like the 76ers touts more optionality this summer, so Daryl Morey and the rest of Philly’s brass are fully zoomed in on being the hunters. However, opportunities tend to come naturally in the offseason, and a recent trade intel has the team getting spoonfed with a potentially irresistible option.

Latest trade intel has the 76ers being presented with a big opportunity

According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Philadelphia 76ers were contacted by the New Orleans Pelicans about a potential trade involving Brandon Ingram, who has been linked to the former for months already.

Until now, all linkages propped up between the 76ers and the one-time All-Star have basically been contrived, but apparently, the Pelicans are amenable to making that happen under their own initiative, which is pretty telling of what their franchise thinks of Ingram as a long-term piece and a running mate to Zion Williamson.

New Orleans apparently intends to shop Ingram this offseason as a kickstarter to their pivot to a retool, and their outright refusal to hand him a lavish extension only proves that. The forward is eligible for a new deal this summer, but it’s now more likely to come from a different club.

Meanwhile, the 76ers have their sights on players with even flashier resumés, but a readily available option to trade for someone like Ingram, one of the best all-around players in the NBA at his peak and still only at the preface of his prime, is an utter luxury.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Pelicans will charge a heavy premium for Ingram, but they don’t exactly have full leverage in this regard. Ingram’s expiring contract could make him a mere one-year rental, and New Orleans’ near-desperate need to shake up their roster does them little favor in mounting themselves at a position to demand.