The New Orleans Pelicans have sent a clear message: Brandon Ingram is staying put—for now. The franchise has made deliberate choices around his potential contract extension and the composition of the team moving forward.
Ingram's Future with the Pelicans
Brandon Ingram is set to earn a significant $36 million in the 2024-25 season, and he is eligible for an extension worth up to $208 million over four years. Despite this lucrative opportunity, the Pelicans have opted to wait before offering him the extension. This hesitation has not gone unnoticed by Ingram's camp, which has reportedly explored potential trade scenarios involving a max extension with other teams.
The financial landscape of the NBA is influencing the Pelicans' decision-making process. The new collective-bargaining agreement includes restrictions on taking back more salary than teams send out if their payroll exceeds the first apron of $178.1 million. For teams over the second apron of $188.9 million, aggregating multiple players' salaries in a trade is off the table. This financial reality was addressed by David Griffin, the Pelicans' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
Griffin's Perspective
"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. At the same time, there is a financial reality to this... we’re committed to each other," Griffin said. His comments reflect a mutual desire to maintain the relationship, but also an acknowledgment of the complexities involved.
In a market like New Orleans, careful financial planning is essential. "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 emphasized. The Pelicans are compelled to make strategic choices rather than simply offering maximum contracts across the board.
"When you don't have to pay them, you want all of them. And then when you actually have to hand them $50 million a year, mechanically, it gets complicated," Griffin added. These complications are undoubtedly influencing the team's hesitation in extending Ingram's contract.
Team Dynamics and Changes
As the Pelicans navigate these financial waters, they also deal with evolving team dynamics. Last season saw Brandon Ingram transition from not playing to becoming a critical leader on the court—a challenging shift. "Brandon went from not playing to, 'OK, now you have to carry us.' It was a really bad situation for Brandon," Griffin explained. In addition, Ingram hyperextended his left knee a few weeks before the end of the regular season, which further complicated his role.
The Pelicans' roster has seen significant changes, too. Zion Williamson's season-ending injury during the play-in tournament was a major blow. The team also acquired Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, but this came at the cost of losing Larry Nance Jr. Additionally, Jonas Valanciunas left in free agency. To address the resulting frontcourt void, the team is counting on a combination of Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to provide depth.
The Path Forward
Despite these challenges, Griffin remains optimistic about the team's strengths. "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 stated, suggesting a strategic pivot in their playing style.
Griffin also acknowledged the external skepticism. "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." This balanced view demonstrates the Pelicans' understanding of their limitations while recognizing the assets they possess.
The Pelicans' approach, characterized by careful financial management and strategic roster choices, illustrates the complexities of team building in the modern NBA. As Brandon Ingram's situation unfolds, the organization will need to continue balancing its aspirations with the economic realities of their market.