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The Toronto Raptors have had quite an interesting offseason so far this summer. After ending their three-year playoff streak this season, they were unable to win their first playoff series since the Bubble in 2020. As the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game first-round series.
Now that the franchise has had its first taste of winning again in several years, general manager Bobby Webster has devoted his commitment to improving the roster. He attempted to do so by trading for seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, but the trade has been put on hold amid the pending investigation with the Los Angeles Clippers and lead sponsor Aspiration.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Headlining the Raptors’ package for Leonard was former Duke Blue Devil Brandon Ingram. This season, the former No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA draft played the second-most games in a season in his 10-year career, which took part in earning him his second career All-Star appearance. As the leading scorer for a middle-of-the-pack playoff team, Ingram was the Raptors’ main option offensively all season, until eventually sitting out the final few games of the playoffs due to a heel injury.
While he sits in limbo trying to figure out if he’ll begin next season as a Raptor, Clipper, or something else, he was mentioned in a list that no NBA player wants to be a part of.
Ingram ranked second only behind Washington Wizards forward/center Anthony Davis on Bleacher Report’s list of most overrated players in the NBA. He is joined by other All-Stars like Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, and more. Most fans will likely wonder why he is so overrated, but the better question is what classifies any player as overrated. Are players being judged on their championships/post season success, counting stats, contract, or just whether they pass the generic fan’s eye test? Unfortunately, Ingram could be considered overrated potentially in all four.
There is no debating postseason success when it comes to Ingram. Some may argue that he hasn’t had sufficient teammates around him to succeed, but having now played with superstars like 22-time All-Star LeBron James, two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes, and two-time All-Star Zion Williamson, there is no excuse for never having won a playoff series. Not to mention that he’s been consistently a top-two player on most of his teams and has reached 15 points per game in a playoff series only once.
His contract may be the easiest determiner of his worth. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound small forward was given a 3-year, $120 million extension from Toronto because of the franchise’s future championship aspirations. All it took was one season for Webster to establish that he was evidently not worth $40 million annually, leading to the trade for a two-time Finals MVP who is worth only $10 million more.
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (3) | David Dermer-Imagn Images
Webster evidently didn’t feel that Ingram was the only starter who needed an upgrade. The Raptors were reported to be a suitor for former Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Luguentz Dort before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks. While the official package from Toronto was not revealed, it’s more than likely that RJ Barrett was the main attraction. Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl have also been consistently linked to trade rumors dating back to the midseason deadline, so it appears the only safe starter is Barnes, the franchise cornerstone.
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Now that the franchise has had its first taste of winning again in several years, general manager Bobby Webster has devoted his commitment to improving the roster. He attempted to do so by trading for seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard, but the trade has been put on hold amid the pending investigation with the Los Angeles Clippers and lead sponsor Aspiration.
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Headlining the Raptors’ package for Leonard was former Duke Blue Devil Brandon Ingram. This season, the former No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA draft played the second-most games in a season in his 10-year career, which took part in earning him his second career All-Star appearance. As the leading scorer for a middle-of-the-pack playoff team, Ingram was the Raptors’ main option offensively all season, until eventually sitting out the final few games of the playoffs due to a heel injury.
While he sits in limbo trying to figure out if he’ll begin next season as a Raptor, Clipper, or something else, he was mentioned in a list that no NBA player wants to be a part of.
Ingram ranked second only behind Washington Wizards forward/center Anthony Davis on Bleacher Report’s list of most overrated players in the NBA. He is joined by other All-Stars like Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, and more. Most fans will likely wonder why he is so overrated, but the better question is what classifies any player as overrated. Are players being judged on their championships/post season success, counting stats, contract, or just whether they pass the generic fan’s eye test? Unfortunately, Ingram could be considered overrated potentially in all four.
What Makes Ingram Overrated?
There is no debating postseason success when it comes to Ingram. Some may argue that he hasn’t had sufficient teammates around him to succeed, but having now played with superstars like 22-time All-Star LeBron James, two-time All-Star Scottie Barnes, and two-time All-Star Zion Williamson, there is no excuse for never having won a playoff series. Not to mention that he’s been consistently a top-two player on most of his teams and has reached 15 points per game in a playoff series only once.
His contract may be the easiest determiner of his worth. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound small forward was given a 3-year, $120 million extension from Toronto because of the franchise’s future championship aspirations. All it took was one season for Webster to establish that he was evidently not worth $40 million annually, leading to the trade for a two-time Finals MVP who is worth only $10 million more.
You must be registered for see images attach
Toronto Raptors guard/forward Brandon Ingram (3) | David Dermer-Imagn Images
Webster evidently didn’t feel that Ingram was the only starter who needed an upgrade. The Raptors were reported to be a suitor for former Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Luguentz Dort before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks. While the official package from Toronto was not revealed, it’s more than likely that RJ Barrett was the main attraction. Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl have also been consistently linked to trade rumors dating back to the midseason deadline, so it appears the only safe starter is Barnes, the franchise cornerstone.
Continue reading...
