Coming into the 2024-25 NBA season, we knew that Brandon Ingram was going to be a significant name to watch in the league. Ingram is an All-Star-caliber player currently playing in the last year of his deal, is seeking a massive extension, and has yet to obtain a full commitment from the New Orleans Pelicans, his present team.
Reportedly, Ingram is hoping to land as close to a max contract as he can while the Pels' brass is only willing to pay him slightly more than his yearly average of just under $32 million. For Ingram, a player in his ninth season, eligible to make up to 30 percent of the salary cap in the first season of his new deal, that means a difference of over $10 million annually.
It's no surprise then why he and New Orleans were unable to come to an agreement over the summer as well as why he's unlikely to re-up with the Pelicans. This disconnect between the two sides on a potential extension makes it inevitable that Ingram will be traded this season, lest New Orleans run the risk of him walking away as an unrestricted free agent, leaving the franchise with nothing in return. Both Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans must have been preparing for this since the offseason, but things have really started to ramp up as we creep closer to the trade deadline.
The New Orleans Pelicans remain a team in flux amid a disastrous start to the season
Brandon Ingram gearing up for next career move
Unless something drastic changes, Brandon Ingram should be the best player openly available on the trade market. Due to his situation, the league has known that he's on the chopping block since at least the summer which has given them plenty of time to evaluate his talent against their needs and prepare a proposal for the Pelicans.
Ingram has been readying for a career change in his own right. He's parted ways with his former representation, Excel Sports, and signed with Klutch, perhaps the most infamous agency in the NBA, run by LeBron James's childhood friend, Rich Paul. Klutch is known for fulfilling its clients' wishes, even if it means getting ugly with a franchise, so expectations should be that Ingram will be traded before February's deadline.
"I'm told Brandon Ingram wants to be part of a winning competitive environment."@ShamsCharania with the latest on Brandon Ingram signing with Klutch Sports Group. pic.twitter.com/wgi9YIfXvP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 3, 2024
ESPN's Shams Charania expects this to be the case and reported that Ingram wishes to be part of a winning culture, a far cry from the Pelicans' abysmal place in the standings. Klutch will have a lot of work to do to find an amicable deal, as Ingram's next team will have to check all of the following boxes:
1. Have a winning culture
2. Be willing to give him his desired extension
3. Offer the Pelicans an acceptable deal
Pelicans part ways with Elfrid Payton
The Pelicans made a baffling move by waiving Elfrid Payton just days after they initially signed him and he dropped 21 assists for them in a valiant effort to buoy the team amid all of its devastating injuries. Regardless of what happens to the team moving forward, it's clear that this roster needs depth, especially at point guard.
This could simply be a financial decision, as New Orleans has infamously never paid the luxury tax and likely doesn't intend to for a team that's currently at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Opening that final roster spot could be an indication that the Pelicans are preparing for a lopsided trade in which they take on more players than they send out though. Still, it's curious why Payton was marked as the sacrificial lamb considering how many expendable pieces New Orleans is currently employing.
Brandon Ingram might not be the only Pelican on the trading block
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that executives around the league believe that the Pelicans may be willing to trade CJ McCollum for the right price. This isn't exactly surprising considering that New Orleans added an All-Star guard last summer in Dejounte Murray and McCollum wouldn't fit the new timeline if the Pelicans decide to take a step backward and retool. McCollum has been one of the best players for New Orleans this year and should command a decent return if he were to be traded to a title contender.