Recent report reveals why Spurs’ chance at Brandon Ingram may have evaporated

There is already so much to be excited about when looking forward to the next NBA season. The unfortunate part is that we are still very far away from it, after adding exciting new pieces to the team and watching a few exhibition games of Victor Wembanyama's excellence. It's all you can do to not drive yourself crazy with anticipation of what the San Antonio Spurs' ceiling could be next year.

However, a recent report from FanDuel's Shams Charania will raise some questions about whether that ceiling could have been higher if they'd gone in a different direction.

Should the Spurs have been more aggressive for Brandon Ingram

San Antonio came away with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes while keeping Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie on the roster. Brandon Ingram is set to make $36 million this year in the final year of his deal. There is no way the Spurs would have been able to make a deal without losing multiple players, and the Duke Blue Devil may not be worth it.

The eight-year vet has underperformed thus far in his career based on his measurables, skillset and the amount of money he makes. With the need for a new contract approaching, the Spurs don't need to put that on their books. It's unlikely he would want to take less money entering his prime, though that's exactly what he would need to do and should do.

Of players with at least 30 attempts, he ranks 48 out of 71 in the NBA in field goal percentage in the clutch, behind Tre Jones and Dorian Finney-Smith. Not to mention that he misses a significant number of games every season due to injury. The Spurs made the right decision not to pursue Ingram. Paul and Barnes will help the team win, mentor the players and their salaries can be moved if need be. It doesn't get much more efficient than that.