Like every off-season, the NBA teams are engrossed in finding suitable assets that fit perfectly with their existing roster. While some players find their new homes early, others keep their hopes alive until the last day of the trading window. So is the case of Brandon Ingram. The New Orleans Pelicans forward has kept his eyes wide open for a potential suitor. However, there hasn’t been a positive sign for him yet, which has led to speculation about his future in the league. Amid the ongoing rumors, Ingram turned heads by not attending the franchise’s training camp.

During the recent episode of the NBA Front Office Show, Brandon Ingram became a hot topic of discussion between the NBA Insiders, Trevor Lane and Keith Smith. Trevor highlighted how the members of the franchise expected Ingram to turn up, but his absence raised many questions. The host assumed multiple possibilities ranging from the All-Star forward’s discontent with the team to some miscommunication regarding the dates.

While his co-host suspected a different angle to the story, Keith guessed that Ingram might not be ready to risk his chances of getting traded if he got hurt in the mini-camp so he skipped it. Then he further added, “We heard, Damian Lillard talked about it in an off-season interview about how he didn’t do anything while waiting for his trade from the Trail Blazers last year, and he felt like that had him way behind as the summer started, but he didn’t want to risk getting hurt and having anything mess up as a option to get traded, I guess, opportunity to be traded.”

Discussing the matter further, the hosts felt that the camp was probably a get-together effort from the players and Ingram turning his back on them is only going to damage his chances in the team. “I don’t love the idea of taking anything out on his teammates…So I think that’s one word. Just you know, let’s be a little careful with this,” Smith warned Ingram.

While Ingram is looking his way out, sitting out during the preseason can have negative effects on him and, in turn, damage his chances of getting a move away.

Looking at Brandon Ingram’s trade situation linking him to Conference rivals

Following the 2024-25 season, Brandon Ingram will enter free agency if the Pelicans fail to get him on board for a contract extension or find a suitor for him. So, in this summer trade, a lot of speculation circled around the 27-year-old. Despite being available in the market for trade, most of the teams have stepped back, showing a lack of interest in making a deal. However, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes suggested a possible trade that could bring about a change in the Western Conference.

Ingram’s desire to sign a $200 million contract makes it a huge deal for the other organizations. However, according to Hughes, the Utah Jazz could adjust their cap space to acquire the former Lakers. If the Jazz offer Walker Kessler and John Collins to the Pelicans, then they could potentially add Ingram to their roster. Hughes went on to state, “The Jazz are flexible, don’t need picks, and can afford to take chances other teams won’t—on players exactly like Ingram.”

For now, Ingram can redeem himself by attending the official training camp so that he doesn’t miss the possible opportunity of suiting up in the Jazz uniform next season.