The future of The New Orleans Pelicans Star forward Brandon Ingram is more in the air than ever. Without a long-term contract, it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll play basketball beyond the 2024-25 season.
Will the Pelicans and Ingram find a role and contract number that works for both of them before the season begins? Or will this be a problem that will weigh on the franchise until the February deadline?
Until a new contract or trade is reached, that will be the biggest topic in New Orleans. The underlying questions will be what kind of role he plays and how he impacts other tight ends on the roster, like Trey Murphy and Herbert Jones.
The consensus is that Ingram should remain with the team heading into the season. That puts a lot of work on the table for head coach Willie Green, who will have his work cut out for him to find playing time for everyone on the perimeter.
However, his long-term outlook with the franchise appears bleaker than ever. Dejounte Murray is likely a centerpiece along with Zion Williams, Murphy and Jones. CJ McCollum also remains in the mix.
The team also has promising winger Jordan Hawkins, as they wouldn’t be short on depth if they chose to part ways with Ingram.
In the opinion of Greg Swartz of Bleacher ReportAll of this plays into Ingram being a flight risk once he’s eligible to leave the team in free agency in 2025.
“This is not going to end well for the Pelicans, a team that is already beyond the luxury tax line and still doesn’t have a starting-caliber center on its roster. Trading Ingram for a player while reducing $1.7 million in payroll remains the best path forward for the franchise, especially given concerns about future contracts…
Even if Ingram manages to get through this season with the Pelicans, he no longer appears to be a long-term candidate for the franchise,” Swartz wrote.
Trade rumors began swirling after the Pelicans made it clear that Ingram would not be offered a max extension.
It’s hard to imagine any team offering Ingram a max contract. But there are a few franchises that should have cap space next season that could offer him a significant amount of money that would be too rich for New Orleans.
