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Brandon Ingram’s recent ankle injury has caused a slowdown in trade talks involving the New Orleans Pelicans’ star forward. Teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings, who were previously interested in upgrading their wing positions, have cooled off on Ingram as a trade target.

On Bleacher Report’s “NBA Insider Notebook,” insider Jake Fischer revealed that both the Bucks and Kings had explored the possibility of acquiring Ingram. However, these discussions seem to have stalled due to his injury and a history of health concerns.

Fischer explained, via ClutchPoints, “Milwaukee is considering options to improve on the wing. They checked in and were interested in Brandon Ingram back in December, but that’s one conversation that hasn’t continued since he’s been injured.” The same issue appears to have impacted Sacramento, which considered Ingram dating back to last summer.

Ingram, who has been limited to 18 games this season, has shown strong performance when healthy. The 27-year-old is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 33.1 minutes per game. However, his injury struggles have raised questions about his long-term availability.

The Pelicans’ injury woes have not been limited to Ingram. Zion Williamson has also missed significant time this season, contributing to the team’s struggles. With a 12-32 record, New Orleans finds itself 14th in the Western Conference, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Ingram is currently playing under an expiring five-year, $158 million contract. As his contract nears its end, the Pelicans are faced with tough decisions about whether to retain or trade the forward. However, his ongoing injury concerns make it challenging for teams to commit to a deal.

Despite Ingram’s impressive numbers when on the court, the Pelicans are in a tough position. The loss of two of their top players has made it hard for the team to compete, and this has put the future of the roster into question.