The New Orleans Pelicans will have only one player in the NBA All-Star game and his name is not Zion, which could mean big things for the Pelicans.
If you watched the last two New Orleans Pelicans’ games and had to guess which player would represent them in the All-Star game, your answer would undoubtedly be rookie sensation Zion Williamson, who has exceeded his considerable hype and been dominant since returning to the lineup.
But the correct answer would be Brandon Ingram, who has quietly become one of the top power forwards in the league. Ingram has been spectacular this season, averaging 24.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists, all career highs. However, with Williamson missing a good chunk of the first half, Ingram has toiled in relative obscurity, as the Pelicans got off to a poor start and got very little national attention from the media. The NBA did eventually take notice and Ingram was selected for his first All-Star game in his fourth season at age 22.
He has missed the last few games with an ankle injury and is questionable for the All-Star game, but his appearance (even if he doesn’t play) should boost his national profile and allow the world to notice what Pelicans’ fans have been yelling all year, which is that Ingram is a special player.
Ingram may not have gotten much national spotlight thus far, but his All-Star appearance could have big implications for the Pelicans moving forward. Here are two reasons why Ingram making the All-Star game is a big deal for the New Orleans Pelicans.
It’s Not Just Zion
Most of the Pelicans’ news this season has revolved around rookie Williamson, whose high-flying style of play and spectacular dunks appeal to even the most casual fan. But the most important player on the team this season has been Ingram. As the centerpiece of the Anthony Davis trade, Ingram’s success is paramount for the Pelicans, as is shows they didn’t get fleeced when they traded one of the top-five players in the NBA to the Lakers. Losing Davis obviously left a big hole, but Ingram has stepped up.
The Pelicans don’t need Ingram to be Davis, but he hasn’t been far off. Davis is only slightly ahead of Ingram in points and rebounds, but otherwise it appears as though the Pelicans struck gold when trading the Brow. This is especially true if you take a look at Davis’ numbers when he was 22, as Ingram is now. They are virtually the same, with Davis being a slightly better rebounder and Ingram a better passer. Ingram’s All-Star nod shows that the Pelicans made the right call and may have found a younger version of Davis.
While Zion’s array of highlight reel dunks has gotten most of the attention, Ingram’s All-Star appearance should remind fans that the Pelicans are not a one man team. In fact, with Williamson, Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Nicolo Melli and Jaxson Hayes, the Pelicans have the most talented and exciting young team in the NBA. Ingram’s breakout season should put the league on notice that the Pelicans are coming up and they had better be ready.
While Zion’s return has been the big story it will take more than one guy to put together a playoff run and raise the value of the team. Ingram’s ascendance will help the team build value, draw free agents, and eventually, he and Zion could be the best frontcourt in the NBA. Unfortunately, Ingram’s play will also lead the Pelicans to their most important decision as a franchise.
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.