The hope is that a healthy Ingram helps improve the Raptors’ tepid half-court offence, and the backline of Barnes and Poeltl and can make up for some defensive shortcomings on the perimeter. If Ingram plays his best basketball, the cost of the acquisition will seem reasonable.

Basically, the deal to send Siakam to Indiana became Ingram, Ja’Kobe Walter (drafted with another first rounder acquired from the Pacers) and Ochai Agbaji (acquired along with Olynyk at last year’s deadline for the third first rounder the Pacers surrendered). Toronto will also send New Orleans a second round selection.

Ingram provides the Raptors with a potent scoring threat, but he can be an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 NBA season.