Disaster scenario looking more likely in Brandon Ingram negotiations

By most marks and measures, Brandon Ingram is one of the best small forwards in the NBA. A skilled scorer who has developed tremendously as a playmaker, Ingram has helped mask roster flaws and highlight strengths for the New Orleans Pelicans throughout his five-year tenure.

Unfortunately, the worst-case-scenario is shaping up for the Pelicans as the 2024 NBA offseason progresses and rosters become set in stone.

Ingram is entering the final season of a five-year, $158.253 million contract. He's due to make $36,016,200 in 2024-25 and will become an unrestricted free agent if he and the Pelicans are unable to come to terms on a contract extension.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Ingram and the Pelicans are interested in negotiating an extension, but his asking price has the organization receptive to potential trade offers.

"Both sides have remained open to a future together, but Ingram’s desire for a high-priced extension has meant the Pelicans must at least maintain dialogue with him and his representatives on whether he stays in New Orleans or moves elsewhere."

Unfortunately, a hurdle that may prevent the Pelicans from gaining leverage in potential contract negotiations is the fact that the suitors for Ingram in a potential trade are drying up. Per Charania:

"Multiple teams across the league believe the trade market is currently limited for Ingram, as two interested teams in Sacramento and San Antonio made offseason moves for forwards DeMar DeRozan and Harrison Barnes, respectively, and most teams are finalizing their rosters for the summer."

With limited trade options and an asking price that my be too far outside of their comfort zone, the disaster scenario of Ingram leaving as a free agent in 2025 is looking more realistic than ever before.

Pelicans headed toward losing Brandon Ingram for nothing in return

Losing Ingram would be a troubling development under any set of circumstances. Since joining the Pelicans in 2019, he's become an All-Star, a Most Improved Player award-winner, and one of the most productive and well-rounded players at his position.

In five seasons with the Pelicans, Ingram has recorded cumulative averages of 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.8 three-point field goals made on .472/.372/.847 shooting.

New Orleans is now preparing to enter the 2024-25 season with one of the best on-paper rosters in franchise history. CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray make up a star-studded backcourt, Ingram and Zion Williamson are top-tier forwards, and Jose Alvarado, Herbert Jones, and Trey Murphy III provide tremendous depth.

Even as the Pelicans stare down the possibility of having to decide between Ingram and Murphy, losing one of their best players for no return is an undoubtedly unsettling possibility.

In 2025, Ingram would reserve the right to sign with any team he chooses as an unrestricted free agent. Alternatively, the Pelicans could trade the 26-year-old for a considerable return centered around draft compensation and at least one high-quality player who can help fill a void in the roster.

The latter is clearly the more desirable of the two potential outcomes, but it appears as though New Orleans is running out of options on the trade front.

In the event that Ingram is still on the roster heading into the 2024-25 season, a cloud would undoubtedly hang over the organization's head. Yes, he could potentially be traded by the deadline, but the impact of incessant rumors about one's self or even one's teammate is impossible to quantify.

New Orleans could still get a deal done at the 25th hour, but if the current trend holds, it will be running the risk of losing Ingram for nothing next summer.