Since several weeks, Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans agree to disagree. The two sides can't find common ground for a contract extension: the player wants nearly $210 million over four years when the franchise doesn't want to give him that amount.
A transfer therefore seems the best solution, but no team seems ready to welcome the Pelicans winger, who will be free in 2025, to then offer him such an extension. The situation is thus blocked.
“If we talk about a relationship, we have been very clear: we would prefer that he stay with us and he has also been very clear, he would prefer to stay with us,” recalls David Griffin, the vice president of the Pelicans. “At the same time, there's a financial reality. I think what we can do to keep this group together is not achieving what he and his agents want. So, for now, we're going to do it this way. Everyone is involved with each other. And we're committed to seeing if this team can work.”
Keeping Brandon Ingram is therefore not unthinkable for New Orleans. But at the right price. “For some markets, there is no choice to be made: we give the maximum salary and we accumulate talent. We are not like that,” explains the leader. “If there's a way to keep him long term, we'll want to do it. And I think he will too.”
“When you don't have to pay them, everyone wants these players. As soon as you have to put in $50 million per season, mechanically, it becomes more complicated.”
The question of a fair price is not just for the Pelicans, but also for teams interested in the winger, who averaged 20.8 points last season. Almost every team could have an eye on such a player. However, David Griffin puts it simply: “When you don't have to pay them, everyone wants those players.”
“As soon as you have to put in 50 million dollars per season, mechanically, it becomes more complicated”he continues. “With the new collective bargaining agreement, the teams that will benefit the most from a player like Brandon Ingram are franchises like us, because we are one player away from playing for the title. This agreement prevents a lot of transfers, therefore, many are unable to be traded. Fortunately, we do not want to transfer him, but I think it is something that will become more and more common.”
Basically, keeping the 2020 Most Improved Player is not the worst solution to start the season. But the franchise is logically more cautious as soon as it imagines losing him without compensation in the summer of 2025. Perhaps giving this squad, composed of Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray, a chance could help unblock things, by providing clear answers and indicating a direction to take for the management.
| Brandon Ingram | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | LAL | 79 | 29 | 40.2 | 29.4 | 62.1 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 9.4 |
| 2017-18 | LAL | 59 | 34 | 47.0 | 39.0 | 68.1 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 16.1 |
| 2018-19 | LAL | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 33.0 | 67.5 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 18.3 |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 62 | 34 | 46.3 | 39.1 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 23.8 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 61 | 34 | 46.6 | 38.1 | 87.8 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 23.8 |
| 2021-22 | NOP | 55 | 34 | 46.1 | 32.7 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 22.7 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 45 | 34 | 48.4 | 39.0 | 88.2 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 24.7 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 64 | 33 | 49.2 | 35.5 | 80.1 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 20.8 |
| Total | 477 | 33 | 46.8 | 36.2 | 78.6 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 19.4 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
