THE The New Orleans Pelicans are at a crossroads relating to former All-Star ahead Brandon Ingram.
On one hand, Ingram has been a constant 20-plus point-per-game scorer for many of his profession. The draw back is that the previous second total choose is worried with accidents.
Ingram performed 64 video games final season, essentially the most since his rookie 12 months.
The Pelicans failed to succeed in an settlement to increase the Duke star ahead’s contract this summer season. Stories mentioned Ingram and his crew are searching for a max extension price $45 million to $50 million yearly. New Orleans has admitted that signing him to such a contract wouldn’t be attainable.
“There’s a monetary actuality to this,” Pelicans govt vp of basketball operations David Griffin informed reporters this summer season. “And I believe there’s extra we will do to maintain this group collectively, it is probably not so far as he and his company would really like. So for now, we’re going to play the sport.”
With the season beginning in lower than a month and a half, they enter the 12 months figuring out that Ingram is eligible to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer season.
Stories have surfaced The Pelicans reached out to groups to gauge exterior curiosity within the ahead, however talks by no means progressed. For now, Ingram stays on the crew with no new contract, and there’s important uncertainty about his future in New Orleans.
Former teammate Nick Younger took to social media to specific his displeasure over Ingram’s contract dispute.
The NBA is loopy, they wish to commerce Bi and pay and maintain all their defenders…cease blocking baskets https://t.co/D1k36wZTzt
— Nick Younger (@NickSwagyPYoung) September 2, 2024
Younger and Ingram have been teammates with the The Los Angeles Lakers for one season throughout Ingram’s rookie 12 months. The Lakers parted methods with Younger and he joined the Golden State Warriors subsequent season to win an NBA championship.
Ingram may now face the likelihood that the Pelicans will half methods with him this 12 months.
This summer season, Ingram posted a video on Instagram of a motivational speaker telling individuals to depart environments the place others do not acknowledge their true price.
Many tried to attach the dots, believing the 27-year-old was sending a message to the group.
Late final month, New Orleans gamers held a voluntary exercise in California the place all gamers besides Daniel Theis have been anticipated to take part.
Ingram was not current.
With Media Day later this month and coaching camp set to start afterward, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see what the temper is round this crew given the circumstances with Ingram and his contract.
The Pelicans open their common season on October 23 in opposition to the The Chicago Bulls.
