Pelicans Committed to Brandon Ingram Amidst Financial Complexity
The New Orleans Pelicans have taken a firm stance on their relationship with Brandon Ingram, making it clear that the talented forward is a key part of their future plans. Despite potential trade scenarios and financial intricacies, the Pelicans aren't ready to part ways with Ingram anytime soon.
Scheduled to earn $36 million in the 2024-25 season, Ingram is also eligible for a significant contract extension that could be worth up to $208 million over four years. However, the Pelicans have not yet offered this lucrative deal. This decision highlights the club’s cautious approach amidst the complexities introduced by the new collective bargaining agreement.
Under the new CBA, teams that exceed the first apron of $178.1 million face restrictions on taking back more salary than they send out. Additionally, those surpassing the second apron of $188.9 million cannot aggregate multiple players' salaries in a trade. These financial realities force teams like the Pelicans to tread carefully.
David Griffin, the Pelicans’ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, emphasized the financial challenges faced by smaller markets. "I think from a relationship standpoint, we've been really clear we'd prefer Brandon stays with us, and Brandon's been pretty clear he prefers to stay with us," Griffin stated. "At the same time, there is a financial reality to this... we’re committed to each other."
Griffin's sentiments reflect the delicacy of managing a roster within the constraints of the market and the league’s financial rules. "In some markets, you don't have to make any decisions: You get a max, and you get a max, and you get a max, and you hoard talent. We're not that market," Griffin added, emphasizing the unique challenges the Pelicans face.
Amidst these considerations, both the Pelicans and Ingram’s camp have explored potential trade scenarios involving a max extension with other teams. Yet, the current sentiment tilts towards retaining the forward, who has shown significant prowess on the court.
Ingram's performance metrics have seen some fluctuations. Early in his tenure with the Pelicans, he averaged 4.2 catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts per game, making an impressive 42% of them. However, his attempts from beyond the arc have declined each year. Compounding this, Ingram hyperextended his left knee shortly before the end of the last regular season, adding a layer of complexity to his on-court contributions.
The Pelicans' roster has seen notable changes, with Zion Williamson suffering a season-ending injury during the play-in tournament. The team also acquired Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks while letting Jonas Valanciunas walk in free agency and losing Larry Nance Jr. in the Murray trade.
With the departure of key players, New Orleans is banking on a combination of Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to fill the void in their frontcourt. "I understand that everybody looks at the situation and goes, 'They’re missing this, they’re missing that,' but we also have a lot of strengths that we want to lean into," Griffin elaborated.
Griffin also highlighted the challenges Ingram has faced. "Brandon went from not playing to, 'OK, now you have to carry us.' It was a really bad situation for Brandon," Griffin acknowledged. The Pelicans' current outlook involves a strategic pivot. "So we gotta make choices, right?... we’re going to have to do this in a really unique way. And I think we’re pretty committed to playing small," he noted.
As the Pelicans navigate these fiscal and strategic complexities, their commitment to keeping Brandon Ingram underscores a delicate balance. Balancing talent retention with financial prudence will be key as the team strives to assemble a competitive roster in a challenging market.