Top 30 small forwards for the 2024-25 season

Ranking: The Top 30 small forwards for the 2024-25 season https://t.co/zj3tdASeqH via @hoopshype

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) August 22, 2024

9. Brandon Ingram (New Orleans)

2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.7 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.6 bpg, 49.2 FG%, 35.5 3P% in 64 games
2024-25 earnings: $36,016,200 (projected 32nd overall in salary)

Based on his growth early on in his career, many believed New Orleans Pelicans swingman Brandon Ingram would at least be a perennial All-Star player by this point. Instead, Ingram seemingly maxed out his potential by his fourth season back in 2021-22, the lone All-Star campaign of his career, never really improving his impact or production since then, instead hovering around the same level.

Granted, that level is pretty impressive, as Ingram just put up a 21/5/6 season on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor. It just felt like the former Duke standout could have been more by now, leading many to be disappointed in what Ingram has turned out to be, which might not be all that fair. After all, if Ingram played in the Eastern Conference, he might be an All-Star every year – he just has the misfortune of playing in a Western Conference so loaded with star wings.

Even so, there’s no question Ingram seemed like he’d be further along by now. The Pelicans must feel that way, too, as Ingram was one of the most bandied-about names in trade rumors this past summer.

Maybe a change of scenery would be good for Ingram, as he is supremely talented, with great size, length, skill and quickness for a small forward, a player who can give you 20 points every night with some rebounds, some plays made for others and some takeaways racked up.

But right now, playing for a New Orleans team loaded up with so many wings, including a former No. 1 pick in Zion Williamson, Ingram has stagnated, there’s no doubt about that. (On top of Williamson, Ingram also has to share the wing with two other players coming up later on this very list, by the way.)

That leads us to believe maybe Ingram’s potential change of scenery could come by February’s trade deadline.