Brandon Ingram in All-Star Game is big for the New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram’s All-Star appearance is mostly a good thing, as the Pelicans will get more national attention, but ultimately it will lead to the the most important franchise decision of this era. Ingram is set to be a restricted free agent after this season and he is going to get paid. His combination of age and talent ensure that Ingram is going to get plenty of interest around the league, especially with a crop of free agents that is seriously lacking in star power. With Davis expected to re-sign with the Lakers, Ingram is arguably the best player available in free agency.

Luckily for the Pelicans, they have an advantage when it comes to re-signing Ingram. The Pelicans will be able to match any offer from another team, and also hold Ingram’s Bird Rights, which means they can offer an additional year. This, along with their exciting young core, should be appealing enough to entice Ingram to remain a Pelican.

There are also few teams who will have cap space in 2020, but someone will almost certainly offer Ingram the full max. A team like the Detroit Pistons, who are hungry for a young star, will undoubtedly throw bags of cash at Ingram. The Pelicans have to be ready to match or exceed any offer for Ingram if they want to keep him as a cornerstone of the franchise.

They’d be insane not to, as players of Ingram’s age and skill do not come along often and he is the perfect player to pair with Zion and the rest of the Pelicans’ emerging core. Ingram’s All-Star appearance is shining a light on his play and value going forward. This is not the time for the Pelicans to pinch pennies, and their decision with Ingram may very well define if this team is going to be hunting championships over the next decade.

Re-signing All-Star Ingram to the maximum contract will put the league on notice that the Pelicans are here to stay and won’t just be a carousel of young players who jump ship for greener pastures. How the Pelicans handle Ingram could potentially affect how other free agents view New Orleans as a destination and eventually their ability to retain Zion.

Ingram has been a revelation for the New Orleans Pelicans this season and his All-Star berth is a big win for the franchise. How they handle him in the future will say a lot about where this team is and where it is headed.