In recent years, there was considerable optimism surrounding Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram as potential cornerstones for the New Orleans Pelicans. However, injuries significantly hindered their ability to fulfill this promise, and the dynamics changed with Ingram's trade to the Toronto Raptors ahead of the deadline last Thursday. Williamson expressed his disappointment regarding the move, reflecting on their shared journey with the team.

During a press conference on Saturday, Williamson spoke candidly about Ingram's departure, stating, 'That was tough to see him go. He's somebody who has been here with me since Day 1. All the ups and downs. You know, you wish it could be different, but I think it was at a point where he felt like he had to do what's best for him.' This sentiment underscores the bond formed between the two players despite the challenges they faced during their tenure in New Orleans.

In this season, Williamson has participated in only 16 games, while Ingram has played in 18. This pattern of injuries has been a recurring theme for both players; Williamson missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season and was limited to 24 games in 2019-20 and 29 games in 2022-23. Ingram, for his part, has not surpassed 64 games in a season since his rookie year in 2016-17. There had been hopes that the Pelicans could emerge as a contender in the Western Conference, especially after a playoff appearance when Williamson played a career-high 70 games last season. Since the arrival of both players in 2017-18, the Pelicans have yet to win a postseason series. Moving forward, Ingram's long-term future remains uncertain, as he is under contract only for this season. ESPN's Brian Windhorst mentioned on his Hoop Collective podcast that discussions are underway for a multiyear contract in excess of nine figures, which would position him as a foundational player for the Raptors alongside Scottie Barnes.