New Toronto Raptors head of basketball operations Bobby Webster put his Brandon Ingram description succinctly in calling him a “hooper’s hooper.”
Asked about the potential fit with Scottie Barnes, Webster simply stated Barnes likes to pass the ball while Ingram likes to shoot the ball.
Plainly, the Raptors traded for Ingram, who was acquired in February but has yet to suit up for Toronto, to see him do what he does best.
“I want Brandon to be himself, to be comfortable in his own skin,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He’s 27 years old and he’s now entering his prime.”
On a Raptors team that ranked 25th and 24th offensively each of the last two seasons, Ingram’s scoring prowess will be a great litmus test of what a prolific scorer can do for a unit that couldn’t previously find a break-in-case-of-emergencies bucket-getter.
Despite the team’s underwhelming offensive efficiency, Rajakovic has taken great pride in collecting 2,340 assists last season and 2,335 assists the season prior. Those two marks are the highest totals in franchise history.
Can Ingram be himself while Rajakovic stays true to his movement-oriented system?
It is in this tug and pull Ingram will have to find his offensive fit.
What Do The Raptors Want From Ingram As A Passer?
Throughout September, the Raptors have prioritized having their projected starting five playing together. That lineup is widely speculated to be Barnes and Ingram together alongside Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl.
Webster has highlighted that while they’re not short on talent, now is also the time to evaluate how that talent fits. Toronto is heavily invested in pushing the pace because it believes that’s where the game is currently and will continue to go.
“The game is changing, more open court and transition, and he will have to grow in that aspect,” Rajakovic said of Ingram. “Obviously, he’s an elite scorer. We’re gonna put him in situations where he can not just score but play-make.
“I think that’s one area of his game a lot of times that’s overlooked, is his willingness to pass the ball and to make the right play.”
Can Ingram Provide The Playmaking Toronto Needs?
The 28-year-old has recorded an assist percentage ranging from 26-28 the last four years. The likes of Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan have hovered around a similar mark in their best seasons. Those are two players whose playmaking have become recognized over the years, despite their penchant for scoring — especially in the midrange.
“I like to set the table, I like when everyone is involved,” Ingram said. “When everyone is involved on the offensive end, you get everything on the defensive end from them. It builds confidence and it’s easier to communicate defensively and offensively when everyone feels involved.
“It brings a different energy to the team when everyone is sharing the ball and making the correct plays.”
His words show an understanding of the holistic impact of making his teammates better. It comes down to understanding what defines being better than the defense in front of him.
Watching Ingram’s film, he’s not only a willing passer but a versatile one. He can throw smart hit-ahead passes, shift defenses in the right way when pushing in transition, feed the big man either rolling or stationed in the dunker spot and kick out to weak-side shooters off of drives.
Ingram’s passing not being widely recognized likely has more to do with playing for the New Orleans Pelicans, which struggled to be a consistent winner during his tenure. Now in Toronto, winning must be part of the equation to earn that recognition.
Teammates Must Capitalize On Ingram’s Scoring Threat
Great scorers consistently have the opportunity to find open teammates because of the respect defenses show them.
Ingram knows he can get his shot off at any time in the midrange. Between 2021-22 and 2023-24, nearly 60 percent of his shots were from that area of the floor. He also converted over 51 percent of his shot attempts from 10-16 feet.
Ingram averaged 4.5 passes on 12.8 drives per game from 2021-22 to 2023-24. As a driver, he generated 8.8 points and 1.2 assists per game. If there’s a reason his passing may be perceived as overlooked, this low assist output may be it. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s making bad decisions. Ingram shot 53 percent on his drives during that span. That’s good offense.
Over that time, he also averaged just under a point per possession in isolation and as the ball-handler in pick-and-rolls. All to say, Ingram is quite the complete scorer.
When opponents show him that respect, his new teammates will have to make them pay. Toronto was 29th in 3-point frequency and 22nd in accuracy last season. Rajakovic will be hoping Ingram’s gravity can not only create more looks but also higher-quality ones leading to improved efficiency, too.
If Toronto is looking for positives with the rest of its established starting five, there are a few. Poeltl is coming off the best scoring season of his career, Quickley stated he wants to shoot 10 threes a game and Barrett hopes to have better efficiency by way of moving down the pecking order. Barnes will likely enjoy not being the focal point of the offense, too. All of this could help Toronto climb the ranks offensively.
The core group has not shied away from targeting a playoff berth this season. If the Raptors are to accomplish that goal, Ingram’s rebirth will be at the center of it.
