Brandon Ingram‘s standing with the Pelicans remain in question with less than a month to go until the team reports to training camp, William Guillory of The Athletic writes. It seems like Ingram will play out the final year of his contract with New Orleans, but his name has consistently appeared in trade rumors since the beginning of the offseason.
As we’ve previously outlined, Ingram is in the final year of a contract that pays him approximately $36MM this season. He’s seeking a contract extension that includes a pay raise, but the Pelicans have been hesitant to make that sort of long-term investment.
Ingram’s production on its face is worthy of an increase in pay, as he averaged 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 37.2% on three-pointers in his five seasons with the Pelicans. However, he expressed disappointment with his role late last season after being benched in the fourth quarter of the play-in game. That brings into question how Ingram will respond this season without a clear indication of his future, Guillory writes.
According to Guillory, Ingram did not attend a week-long mini-camp held by New Orleans players in California that featured every player on the roster outside of him and Daniel Theis. The Pelicans believed Ingram would show up, but he never did. This is an event Ingram organized in the past, Guillory writes, so it was notable that he wasn’t there.
With Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray on lucrative contracts, the Pelicans don’t seem eager to dole out more big money, especially with an extension for Trey Murphy on the horizon. The new CBA limitations also complicate potential trade options, especially before the season, since any team acquiring Ingram would need to be confident in its ability to lock him up long-term in order to warrant giving up valuable assets in a trade.
Whether or not he has fallen out of favor, the Pelicans need Ingram’s shot creation if they want to maximize the potential of the current roster, Guillory reasons.
It doesnt make sense to extend Ingram
Overrated ……. not worth the 36 mill.
I’d take ….
Collins and Clarkson for Ingram.
He’s better than OG. And, I’m pretty sure you were happy about him getting 40+ million a year.
I’m not here to defend KnickerbockerAl, but Ingram is not better than OG. OG is an exceptional defender on top of his efficient offense.
Fans today don’t respect 2way guys. When this is a team 2way sport. Man OG can avg more than Ingram.
OG best scoring yr 17.1 pts.
(1way) Ingram best scoring yr 23.9 pts .
Not a big money guy. I respect their right to earn. OG has nothing to do with Ingram.
He plays no D. And gets lost in the offense at times. He’s not a max player. Worse than LaVine. I’d trade him now. You can’t build team culture. When your top scorer, ain’t about it. I’d move on from Ingram.
Ingram and Lavine are both untradable.
Bulls have to package picks to make it happen.
Ingram was given permission to talk to all teams and make his own deal. Nothing happened because he wants more than he’s worth.
Ingram on an expiring deal under 40 million is an “untradeable” asset? Wow.
Anybody who says Ingram is more valuable than OG Anunoby hasn’t been following the NBA for a while. No team wants Ingram, everybody wants Anunoby.
While New Orleans doesn’t want Ingram and no team will take him off their hands, Anunoby had offers from multiple teams for 4 yr / $180M deals before signing for that with the Knicks.
Pretty simple to me, Pelicans want to be taken serious.
You have to many wings and need to upgrade at centre. Ingram out and bring in a centre.
Portland has 4 (Ayton the most like for like in a trade), Hawks been shopping Capela, BLopez was on the block, Vuce on the block, I know none of these guys are world beaters but it’s simple maths. Less wings better centre equals better all round team.
Ayton I think would be solid. Yes he’s flawed but his mid range shots are excellent and he’ll open the rim, rebounds terrifically and you have an undersized 4, you’d be super athletic with Zion and Ayton together although not strong defensively but you have Theis for that I guess.
Yeah, Pels want to deal Ingram for a C, but nobody wants Ingram because he’s asking for more money than he’s worth.
Portland not trading Ayton, he’s a core piece of their rebuild, and they may even use him at the 4.
Pels want a defensive center. Ayton doesn’t fit. And neither does Vucevic. They tried for Jarrett Allen. Capela would work. So might Walker Kessler.
Yeah good luck rebuilding with Ayton at the 4, 24% from three on 0.1 attempts per game.
Donovan Clingan at the 5, 22% from three on 0.1 attempts per game in college (closer three point line).
And with a backcourt of Scoot Henderson 32.5% from three and Shaedon Sharpe 33 % from three.
Portland rebuilding to be the worst team of all time at this rate.
Ingram walks into this team at the SF position, Grant at the 4 and Clingan at the 5. Reath as back up and Rob Will also there. Boost up Robs value when he’s healthy, cash in on him at the deadline for draft picks.
Yes your stuck having to pay Ingram but regardless Ayton is overpaid and NOT a long term piece and your team is full of guys on rookie contracts, you can afford him.
Ingram instantly makes this team better.
As for the defence, I do 100% agree Pelicans would be better with a defensive minded centre but if should you not be able to find a deal for that Ayton would still be an upgrade for this team regardless. You’ve got Jose Trey and Herb all great defenders and in Murray Zion and Ayton they have the potential to be solid defensively.
Nuggeys won a title with Murray KCP MPJ Gordon and Jokic, not a hell of a lot of defence there.
I’m a Sixers fan, I just hate to see teams not making obvious deals to make themselves better and well rounded
I like the idea Aristotle said of Walker Kessler to NOP. NOP could trade 2 1sts and a contract for him. (They do not need any picks of young players right now, try their luck in the 2nd rd) or two 1st or three for Myles Turner
PG. Murray
SG. Ingram/ or trade Ingram and start Murphy
SF. Jones
PF. Williamson
C . Kessler/ Myles Turner
Sixth man Murphy
CJ McCollum traded for…..
Myles Turner would be a great choice too for NOP
Bruce, Boucher, 2025 2nd, 2026 first for Ingram.
Cleveland offers Okoro, Niang and Jerome for Ingram. Cleveland then signs three veterans on the bench and NOP waives Jerome.
Money doesn’t work, unfortunately. Unless you sign Okoro to something like 20 million per season, which he’s not worth.
Don’t think Ingram is a fit anyway. Cleveland can’t afford to run out Garland’s lack of D, Ingram’s lack of D, and Mitchell being a lacking PoA defender at the same time (he’s good as a team, zone, and help defender, but not Point of Attack).
Trading BI is the only way out of this mess ……. he’s expendable now with Trey’s trajectory.
Blazers with a surplus of bigs ……. Time Lord (if some semblance of health) & Simons for BI & Jose