The New Orleans Pelicans have made it abundantly clear: Brandon Ingram is here to stay, at least for the near future. The team's resolve to retain Ingram comes amid a complex weave of financial realities and strategic decisions that echo throughout the league.
Brandon Ingram’s Contract Situation
Currently, Ingram is set to earn a substantial $36 million in the 2024-25 season. Furthermore, he is eligible for a lucrative contract extension that could be worth up to $208 million over four years. Despite the potential reward, the Pelicans have chosen not to offer this extension just yet. This omission isn't from a lack of desire to keep Ingram; rather, it reflects the intricate financial decision-making processes necessitated by the NBA's new collective-bargaining agreement.
Collective-Bargaining Agreement Complications
Under the new agreement, teams face tighter salary cap management, especially when their payrolls exceed specific thresholds. Teams above the first apron of $178.1 million face restrictions on taking back more salary than they send out in trades. Those crossing the second apron of $188.9 million cannot aggregate multiple players' salaries in trades. These restrictions impose additional layers of complexity for teams like the Pelicans, who need to carefully navigate their financial commitments.
David Griffin, the Pelicans' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, candidly discussed these challenges. "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 explained. The Pelicans must make choices that reflect their market reality, which adds a unique texture to their team-building strategy.
Team Dynamics and Player Health
Ingram's role within the team has also seen fluctuations. When he started with the Pelicans, he attempted an impressive 4.2 catch-and-shoot three-pointers per game and made 42% of them. However, these attempts have steadily declined each year. This shift in game dynamics coincides with health concerns. Ingram hyperextended his left knee a few weeks before the end of the last regular season, while Zion Williamson suffered a season-ending injury during the play-in tournament.
Roster Changes
This offseason, the Pelicans acquired Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, a move that involved sacrificing significant talent. They let Jonas Valanciunas go in free agency and lost Larry Nance Jr. in the process of securing Murray. To compensate for these losses, the Pelicans are counting on a combination of Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to bolster their frontcourt depth.
Strategic Commitments
Despite the flux, Griffin remains optimistic and committed to a vision that includes Ingram as a core pillar. "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," Griffin affirmed.
Moreover, Griffin acknowledged the broader league pressures and their impact on the Pelicans' decision-making. "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," he stated. Griffin also addressed the necessity of making hard 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."
Looking Ahead
The Pelicans find themselves at a crossroads where financial prudence and strategic foresight must blend seamlessly to chart a path forward. "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," Griffin noted.
Whether or not Ingram receives a max contract extension in the future remains to be seen. What is clear is that the Pelicans are making calculated moves to ensure they remain competitive, balancing financial constraints and roster needs while staying committed to their prominent players.