The New Orleans Pelicans have firmly communicated their position: Brandon Ingram is staying put for the time being. As the team gears up for the 2024-25 season, Ingram is on track to earn $36 million, with a potential contract extension worth up to $208 million over four years lingering on the horizon. Despite these numbers, the Pelicans have decided not to offer the extension just yet.
The complexity of contract negotiations under the new collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) adds another layer of considerations. The CBA imposes restrictions on teams whose payroll exceeds the first apron of $178.1 million, limiting their ability to take back more salary than they send out in trades. For teams over the second apron of $188.9 million, aggregating multiple players' salaries in a trade becomes impossible. Both the Pelicans and Ingram's camp are reported to have explored potential trade scenarios involving a max extension with other teams.
David Griffin, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Pelicans, provides insights into the team's stance. "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," says Griffin. This mutual commitment underscores the challenges faced by smaller market teams when managing star player salaries.
"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 adds, highlighting the financial dynamics unique to New Orleans. Additionally, he notes the complexity involved when high salaries come into play: "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."
Ingram's Performance and Injury History
Ingram began his tenure with the Pelicans with a promising shooting performance, attempting 4.2 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers per game and converting 42% of them. However, these attempts have steadily declined each year. His recent hyperextended left knee injury, sustained just weeks before the last regular season's end, adds to a string of physical challenges for the forward. Griffin remarks, "Brandon went from not playing to, 'OK, now you have to carry us.' It was a really bad situation for Brandon."
The Impact of Injuries on the Pelicans
The Pelicans have not been strangers to injury woes. Zion Williamson suffered a season-ending injury during the play-in tournament, leaving the team scrambling. The acquisition of Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks aims to provide some relief, but it came at the cost of losing Larry Nance Jr. in the trade and letting Jonas Valanciunas walk in free agency. The team is now counting on Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to bolster their frontcourt depth.
A Unique Approach to Team Building
Griffin emphasizes a tailored approach to team building, guided by both financial constraints and strategic choices. "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 explains. This philosophy points to a reimagined, perhaps more agile, style of play that leans into the strengths of their available roster.
Despite the challenges, Griffin remains optimistic about the team's potential. "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," he asserts. As the Pelicans navigate the complexities of the CBA, manage injuries, and make strategic roster decisions, they aim to carve out a competitive edge that aligns with their unique market constraints and team identity.