Apr 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) dribbles up court during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers have encountered some serious setbacks on the road to contention. For their part in the cap circumvention scheme with Kawhi Leonard, the franchise has taken a significant hit in the form of a $30 million fine and the loss of five first-round draft picks.
Caught in the middle of the drama is NBA forward Brandon Ingram, who was part of the package Toronto gave up for Kawhi. At 29, he adds some hope to the Clippers’ future, but it is far from an ideal situation, as NBA champion Draymond Green recently pointed out. In a segment on his podcast, he explained the unique challenges facing Ingram and why he shouldn’t get too comfortable in Los Angeles.
“Brandon Ingram, you’re going through this situation, and you’re trying to ball, you try because when you look at the situation that’s now left behind, it’s not a good one,” said Green on his podcast. “It’s awful, actually. Um, and this team has no future. You’re talking about a future 10 years down the road. So, if you’re Brandon Ingram, you’re looking at that, and you’re like, ‘All right, I’m in Los Angeles. What can I do with this situation?’ You can be an all-star again, you can go dominate and ultimately put yourself in a position where the Clippers can trade you somewhere that needs you, and they can acquire some picks because they need picks.”
Most teams have the luxury of roster flexibility, meaning they have enough assets to make a deal and tweak their roster. But without their own picks for so many years, the Clippers will struggle to make trades and build toward the future. That’s why (while there are no plans for a deal) Ingram is probably going to be traded sooner rather than later, and how he plays until then could determine where he ends up.
“And so, if you’re Brandon Ingram, that’s got to be the mindset,” added Green. “Let me go get back everything that I once had. And this is an opportunity for me, next to Darius Garland, to go and do that. Because if you’re those guys, you have to know that if I can raise my value, they’re going to trade me because they need picks.”
With averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting from the field last season, Ingram proved his worth as a score-first veteran wing, helping the Raptors to the fifth-best record in the East (46-36). At 29, he’s still in the prime of his career, with a $41.9 million player option in 2027-28.
Alongside Darius Garland, the Clippers believe that Ingram can keep them competitive in the West and potentially help them contend for a playoff spot, but they have much bigger needs right now than he can provide. In the end, with no easy way to recoup those lost draft picks, the Clippers will likely trade Ingram (and whoever else they can) to flip into draft capital and reset their team.
If Ingram plays well enough, it will improve his chances of landing in a more lucrative situation, where he can play a big role on a contending team. If not, he’ll be headed to whichever team is willing to give up the most. Either way, the situation in Los Angeles is clearly unstable, and the best way for Ingram to get through it is by luring future suitors with his best basketball.