Things keep getting crazier in the NBA ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline with star players changing teams left and right. The Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis blockbuster came out of nowhere on Saturday, completely rocking the basketball world and things haven’t slowed down since.
Since the Doncic-Lakers deal we’ve already seen De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs, Zach LaVine to the Kings, Jimmy Butler to the Warriors, Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks, Kris Middleton to the Wizards, and more.
Late Wednesday night, one of the final big names on the trade market (at least as far as we know) was finally moved as the Pelicans traded Brandon Ingram to the Raptors for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, the Pacers' 2026 first-round pick, and a second-round pick.
Breaking: The New Orleans Pelicans have traded Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown Jr., Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/tI4jo2cYhM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2025
Ingram has seemingly been on the trade block forever. He’s a very talented player, but has plenty of flaws and will be up for a big payday this offseason. It’s a solid gamble by Toronto, buying low on a depressed asset but a talented young player in a market that has never been known for attracting star players.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans get rid of a player they didn’t want to pay who was set to leave for nothing at the end of the year. They got Brown’s expiring salary, a good, cheap stretch-big in Olynyk, and two picks; that’s a solid return.
Bruce Brown could be headed for buyout, reunion with Nuggets
It’s a solid but not spectacular deal for both sides, but the biggest winner in the deal may actually be a team that’s not directly involved, the Denver Nuggets. The Pelicans sit at 12-39, 14th place in the Western Conference, and staring down the barrel of a lost season.
At this point, their best move is to get another stud in the draft and hope for a healthy run next season. It’s in their best interest to lose games the rest of this season and for that reason, there’s a very good chance that newly-acquired Bruce Brown is a buyout candidate in the last year of his contract.
Assuming Brown clears waivers he could sign with any team that isn’t over the first or second apron of luxury tax. The Nuggets are currently over that figure, but they could waive a player at the end of the bench which would allow them to sign Brown to a minimum contract for the rest of the season.
Signing Brown would be dream scenario for Nuggets
We’ve already seen reports that there is mutual interest in a reunion and Brown could return to Denver with a chance to provide the missing piece to another championship puzzle for the Nuggets. Realistically, Brown is by far the best player the Nuggets could possibly add this season and this would be a monstrous win for Calvin Booth and company.
Frankly, it would be a huge stroke of luck, a dream come true, and a bit of a gift from the basketball gods. Denver has mismanaged assets and put themselves in a bad spot and yet the perfect player could fall right into their lap.
Plenty of contenders will likely be interested in Brown’s services, but his history in Denver, chemistry, and familiarity should all work in the team’s favor. If he decides to come home and recreate his old role, this could end up being one of the biggest moves of this whole trade deadline and something that could genuinely swing the championship race.