Rip City Project
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3 trades to make the Portland Trail Blazers instant contenders

By Stevie Cozens

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 22: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on April 22, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 22: Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on April 22, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers Trade #2 – CJ McCollum for Brandon Ingram

Brandon Ingram is a 23-year-old small forward who has one of the brightest futures of a wing in the NBA. Ingram inked a max extension in the summer of 2020 after a breakout season the year before where he averaged 23 points per game on an elite 39 percent from three.

Ingram is a jumbo shot creator who can work off the bounce, in the pick and roll of off the ball from the catch. He has shot 39 percent or more in three of his five NBA seasons, and he now has a strong mid-range game to go with his outside shooting.

At six-foot-eight with a scary seven-foot-three wingspan, Ingram can shoot over people or finish through contact and has improving strength. Ingram has had some of the higher foul drawing rates at his position the last few years. He is also an excellent passer for a small forward and can initiate off the bounce or from stationery reads.

Defensively, he doesn’t always use his length to overwhelm opponents, but he can competently guard lots of opponent wings and is improving on that end.

Ingram’s game doesn’t mesh that well with Zion Williamson, someone like CJ McCollum helps the Pelicans be better right away. McCollum can play make a bit from the two and playoff Zion who will want to have the ball in his hands more.

Non-shooting factors at the guard spots like Eric Bledsoe make things tougher on the spacing for Zion, whereas CJ will attract the attention of good defenders meaning opposition teams can’t help off him.

These two salaries match nicely, and with Ingram’s age and years left, no assets would need to be attached either way.