Adding Brandon Ingram could be the boost the Jazz need

The Utah Jazz have been steadily improving under Will Hardy's tutelage. Lauri Markkanen has taken his game to new heights over the past two seasons, and the Jazz are reportedly keen to retain his services with a contract extension.

As a rebuilding roster, Utah will consistently be linked with potential upgrades, both in the trade and free-agent markets. The latest name to be linked with the franchise is Brandon Ingram, who is entering the final year of his current deal.

"The Jazz are a team NBA insiders have circled as being a potential Ingram suitor," Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported. "The bigs on Utah’s roster include Walker Kessler, John Collins, Drew Eubanks and Kyle Filipowski. Kessler, who’s still on his rookie contract, offers rim protection, a quality Pelicans executive David Griffin has been seeking to add for more than a year. Collins primarily plays power forward, but he can step in at center in small-ball lineups. He offers athleticism and serviceable outside shooting."

Ingram's stock took a significant hit during the 2024 NBA playoffs. His subpar performances raised questions over his ability to operate as a top-tier offensive option, with the biggest question mark being whether he will embrace the three-point shot.

In the four postseason games Ingram participated in, he averaged 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists. For reference, his previous outing in the playoffs saw him register averages of 27 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists over six games.

The most notable difference between those two postseason performances was Ingram's three-point shooting. In 2022, he shot 40.7% from deep on 4.5 attempts, while in 2024, he shot 25% on two attempts per game. Clearly, he's capable of much more than he showed this year.

Unfortunately for Ingram, it would appear the Pelicans aren't willing to pay him the max salary he's expected to be looking for. On July 11, Marc Stein reported that Ingram's camp will be seeking a $210 million deal.

"Ingram, with one All-Star appearance on his resume like Markkanen, has only one season left on his current contract and is said to be seeking a four-year contract extension worth nearly $210 million," Stein reported on his Substack. "The Pelicans have made it clear that they won't go to those lengths to re-sign him."

If the Jazz are willing to pay Ingram what he's looking for and feel confident Markkanen will re-up with the franchise within the next 12 months, they will have two high-upside All-Star talents to build around. Whether Danny Ainge is willing to allow Utah to move into the next phase of its rebuilding project remains to be seen. However, talents like Ingram — who are still a year or two away from their prime — don't come around very often.

If the Jazz are serious about improving, they would be wise to explore a potential trade package.