The New Orleans Pelicans have made their position abundantly clear: Brandon Ingram remains a cornerstone of the team's future plans.
Brandon Ingram, set to earn $36 million in the 2024-25 season, has emerged as a critical player for the Pelicans. Despite being eligible for a massive contract extension worth up to $208 million over four years, the Pelicans have opted to delay offering this lucrative deal. This decision is not without its complexities, influenced strongly by the new collective-bargaining agreement that imposes financial restrictions on teams exceeding specific payroll thresholds. If a team's payroll surpasses the first apron of $178.1 million, they face constraints on taking back more salary than they send out in trades. Exceeding the second apron of $188.9 million means teams cannot aggregate multiple players' salaries in a trade.
David Griffin, the executive vice president of basketball operations for the Pelicans, encapsulated the tightrope the team walks: "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's statements underscore the financial tightrope smaller-market teams must navigate, especially compared to their larger-market counterparts. "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," he said, reflecting the disparities that influence payroll decisions across the league.
Both sides have even explored trade scenarios involving a max extension with other teams, further illustrating the complexity at play. This tight financial choreography is made even more challenging by the physical demands and injuries that come with the sport. Ingram, who began his Pelicans career by attempting 4.2 catch-and-shoot threes per game and making 42% of them, has seen these attempts decline steadily each year. Recently, he hyperextended his left knee, adding another layer of uncertainty.
The Pelicans have not had the best of luck with injuries across the board. Prominent forward Zion Williamson suffered a season-ending injury during the play-in tournament, significantly denting the team's playoff ambitions. Amidst these setbacks, the Pelicans made strategic roster changes, including acquiring Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks. However, these moves came at a cost, with the team parting ways with Jonas Valanciunas in free agency and losing Larry Nance Jr. in the Murray trade.
In addressing the team’s evolving dynamics, Griffin noted, "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. 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."
The loss of key players has left gaps in the Pelicans' roster, making depth in the frontcourt an area of concern. The team is reportedly counting on a combination of Daniel Theis, rookie Yves Missi, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to bolster their interior strength. Griffin remains optimistic about the team’s existing assets, despite widespread speculation about their perceived deficiencies. "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," he said.
Overall, the Pelicans are navigating a series of calculated decisions as they aim to balance financial prudence with competitive ambition. Their strategy involves not only utilizing their star players effectively but also making shrewd roster decisions that align with the league's financial stipulations. Brandon Ingram stands at the center of this intricate balancing act, symbolizing both the team's potential and the challenges it faces in a fiercely competitive NBA landscape.