Report: Cavaliers Not Interested In Giving Brandon Ingram Max Extension He’s Seeking

According to NBA reporter Will Guillory of The Athletic, the Cleveland Cavaliers are not interested in giving Brandon Ingram the max extension he’s seeking. 

Ingram is in the final year of his contract. The New Orleans Pelicans could trade the forward if an extension between the two sides isn’t reached. 

“Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen remains at the top of the candidate list,” Guillory wrote. “The Pelicans have shown interest in him for years, and keeping Darius Garland out of potential proposals should make it easier for both sides to find common ground. However, Cleveland may not be interested in giving Ingram the lucrative extension he’s seeking, according to league sources.”

Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Pelicans in 2023-24 while shooting 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from beyond the arc and 80.1% from the free-throw line.

The Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

Ingram has career averages of 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Los Angeles Lakers and Pelicans. He won the 2019-20 Most Improved Player of the Year Award. 

New Orleans acquired Ingram from the Lakers in 2019 in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade. The Pelicans haven’t won a playoff series with Ingram. 

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Cavaliers are interested in Ingram. 

However, a trade is unlikely since the Cavaliers don’t want to part ways with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen or Darius Garland. 

“Cleveland continues to be mentioned by league personnel as a possible alternative for Ingram, but there’s no straightforward path to making such a deal work with the Cavaliers,” Fischer wrote. “While Cleveland holds interest in Ingram and values his skillset, sources said, Cavs personnel have maintained a reluctance to breaking up the team’s core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, as NBA figures continue preparing for Mitchell to sign a lucrative extension. Without parting with Allen, who’s long been on New Orleans’ radar, it’s difficult to find a path to bring Ingram to Northeast Ohio.”