Report: Pelicans Told Brandon Ingram They Aren’t Interested In Giving Him Max Extension

According to NBA reporter William Guillory of The Athletic, the New Orleans Pelicans have told Brandon Ingram that they are not interested in giving him a max extension. 

Ingram is in the final year of his contract. He’ll make $36 million in 2024-25. 

“It started when the Pelicans made it clear to him and his representation that they weren’t interested in signing the 26-year-old to the four-year, $208 million max extension Ingram was seeking this offseason, according to league sources,” Guillory reported. “The Pelicans have publicly expressed their desire to retain Ingram on multiple occasions, and he’s reciprocated this sentiment behind closed doors. However, the financial implications of this decision are significant. In the new NBA, where almost every team lives in fear of the repercussions that come with exceeding the second apron, handing out max money to players who lack no-brainer, max-caliber production can be devastating.”

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. 

The Pelicans acquired Ingram from the Lakers in 2019. New Orleans hasn’t won a playoff series with Ingram. 

“Without an Ingram trade, the Pelicans would have to find some middle ground with their forward on an extension,” Guillory reported. “There’s some optimism within the building that the two sides could come to terms on a deal that makes each happy. Both the Pelicans and Ingram agree that going into training camp without an extension is a distraction they’d prefer to avoid. That scenario certainly wouldn’t make sense for the Pelicans; finding value for him now is difficult enough, but trying to move him on an expiring contract at the trade deadline would be a nightmare.”