Paul Pierce thinks the Toronto Raptors can build a solid team around Brandon Ingram, urges to trade for Miami Heat star.
This year’s NBA Trade Deadline featured some of the craziest deals in recent history. While Luka Doncic’s move to the LA Lakers and Jimmy Butler’s five-team trade to the Golden State Warriors made major headlines, the Toronto Raptors quietly added an elite player.
The 2019 NBA champions acquired Brandon Ingram from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2031 second-round pick.
Considering Ingram is still sidelined due to an ankle injury, many questioned the Raptors’ decision to acquire him, but former NBA star Paul Pierce is all for the move.
Even with Ingram’s Raptors debut at least a month away, the organization still handed him a three-year, $120 million contract extension.
Once again, the decision received mixed reactions from fans, but former Boston Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have high hopes for Ingram.
KG said: “Toronto is a team that you can’t sleep on, because they have a great fan base, regardless of who’s playing, or whatever, they support their team. But then they give you so much energy that if you play for the Raptors, bro. Man, they carry you around the city. Ingram is going to love that up there.”
Pierce added: “I think with Ingram man, he is an All-Star caliber player. He just seemed like he lost his motivation down there in New Orleans. And I just feel like sometimes you need a new place to be in to get fresh air, to get that back.
“So I like that team of him with Scottie Barnes. I don’t know if they’re going to make the playoffs this year, probably not, for the Play-In, but you’ve got something to build on. You’ve got some building blocks.”
The 2024-25 NBA season is likely over for the Raptors as they enter the All-Star break with a 17-38 record, but they can likely aim for a playoff push next season with Ingram as the focal building block.
Despite being a crucial contributor to their 2022 NBA Championship run, the Warriors didn’t think twice before parting ways with Andrew Wiggins in a blockbuster trade to acquire Jimmy Buckets.
Pierce thinks Wiggins could be open to a move to Canada to play alongside Ingram for the Raptors.
“Try to bring Wiggins out there. He’s a veteran now who’s won. Now he can give him that game. He’s from there, he can go back go back home, and give them some game. Bring veterans in, like Houston did. That might be the move for them in the summer.”
It’s evident that the Raptors are still multiple moves away from competing for an NBA Championship, but they could have an active summer ahead of them.
Moreover, they have great odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. If they draft an elite big like Cooper Flagg and pair him with the likes of Ingram and Wiggins, they compete for a chip sooner rather than later.
