The Milwaukee Bucks would be all too glad to take Brandon Ingram off the Raptors' hands, giving them another star and a shot creating small forward.
Toronto fans couldn't be more disappointed with how Ingram finished the season. After going scoreless in 11 minutes, he left injured in Game 5 of the Raptors' first-round series against Cleveland. In the first four games, Ingram averaged a paltry 14.8 points on 33.9 percent shooting.Â
It's not just a problem of four bad games in the playoffs. Ingram has two years and $82 million remaining on his contract. He is already straining a roster with multiple large salaries and playoff star RJ Barrett in need of an extension.Â
Here, Toronto, let the Bucks lend a hand. Â
Ingram already cramping Raptors roster after ineffective playoffs
For Ingram, it's not just the 2026 postseason. He put up eerily similar stats his last time on the playoff stage in New Orleans: 14.3 points per game on 34.5 percent from the field.Â
His overall performance for the Raptors was at least as underwhelming. His assist-to-turnover ratio declined. So did his defensive presence. Since balling out in his 2021-22 playoff debut, Ingram has shrunk, not shined, in the bright lights.
That's a big problem for the Raptors. Ingram is making more than anyone on the roster except for franchise star Scottie Barnes. They're paying him to be a No. 2 option, rookie forward Collin Murray-Boyles outplayed him against the Cavaliers. Not ideal.
Ingram is still a good player. In the regular season, he averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 47.7/38.2/82.0 splits. He made his second All-Star Game. Nice.
For Toronto, however, he was always a somewhat redundant fit. They already have shot creators in Barnes, Barrett, and point guard Immanuel Quickley. That trio will combine to make nearly $104 million next season.Â
While Ingram helped Toronto to 46 wins and a fifth-place finish in the East, in the playoffs he did not look like part of a future Raptors core on a serious contender. Instead, he looked dispensable.Â
Bucks could land their long-sought starting small forwardÂ
Ingram could find a better fit with the Bucks. Naturally, going that route would only make any kind of sense if Giannis Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee. In that case, adding Ingram would give the Bucks another playmaker at a key position.Â
Is it sacrilege to say that Ingram would be the closest thing Milwaukee has had to prime Khris Middleton since, well, prime Khris Middleton?
Probably. Middleton was a two-way force Ingram is not, and a playoff riser. But ever since injuries derailed Middleton's career, the Bucks haven't had much at the small forward position. Kyle Kuzma has been anything but the answer.Â
If Giannis wants to stay, Milwaukee will have to give him a reason to. Trading for Ingram might sound like another starstruck swing doomed to disaster. At a buy-low price point, however, it could be worth it. On the 2026-27 Bucks, Giannis, Ingram, and Ryan Rollins would be an intriguing top three, to say the least.Â
Assembling feasible trade package would not be difficult
What would a trade look like? Milwaukee has multiple pathways to meet Ingram's salary. Kuzma and Bobby Portis would work. So would Myles Turner and another small salary or two.Â
Ingram has a bloated contract and, perhaps unfairly, a reputation as an empty calorie scorer. There might be fewer assets going back to Toronto than you might think.
For the Turner deal to work, of course, the Raptors would need to move center Jakob Poeltl. They should be looking to do that anyway. For all Turner's shortcomings, he would give Toronto a better rim protector and floor spacer at the five. That makes for a better match alongside Barnes, who is not a strong shooter.
Moving Turner, either in the Raptors deal or a separate one, would also help the Bucks offset the financial burden of taking on Ingram. If Toronto is willing to play ball - and they should be - Milwaukee should gladly step up to the plate.
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