1) Chicago Bulls grand prize RFA targets: Brandon Ingram
The rise of the former Duke Blue Devils lengthy 6-foot-7 and 190 pound forward Brandon Ingram with the New Orleans Pelicans in the season that was could be something they try and build around for a while. But there’s any number of directions for which the Pelicans could go to build namely around fellow former Duke forward Zion Williamson in the near future.
Ingram received his first career NBA All-Star nod during the 2019-20 season, and also received the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year honors. It was a very accomplished season for Ingram in the season that was. And it is definitely worth consideration from the Pelicans to build around Ingram and Zion moving forward.
But if they don’t, then the Bulls should try and see what it would take to maybe pull off a sign-and-trade deal to get Ingram to the Windy City. He had a tremendous 2019-20 season, and would be an immediate star presence to help turn around the Bulls rebuild.
Ingram played in 62 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season with the Pelicans (all of which he started in). He averaged a career-best 23.8 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And Ingram shot 46.3 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 85.1 percent from the free-throw line. Ingram is really blossoming into a great shot creator and efficient shooter in his own right.
Getting Ingram from NOLA would be difficult, but if David Griffin doesn’t want to build around him then the Bulls should be first in line to see what it would take to get him in the mix.