Brandon Ingram’s future with the Pelicans is still uncertain. Neither the franchise nor the player know what tomorrow will bring. So, what should the Pink Flamingos do with their winger, currently between the f*k between two chairs?
Rumors surrounding a trade for the former Lakers player were rife this summer. Certainly, the Olympic Games have calmed all that down a little, but at the dawn of the resumption of the NBA season, there is no doubt that the negotiations could resume with a vengeance concerning the skinny player. Indeed, for the moment, the time is neither for an extension… nor for a transfer. The vagueness is total and it is necessary to clarify this situation a little.
In terms of finances, BI is looking for a maximum contract that neither its front office (nor any other) seems willing to offer it. As a result, the negotiations are stuck and are at an impasse, and the player has been on the fence for several months already. The sweep against the Thunder doesn’t really help matters, he who is not against staying in Louisiana, but not at any price, and is not against leaving if necessary. Except that during this period, things must move forward, and in this sense, the Pelicans must continue to expand their squad. They managed to bring Dejounte Murray to New Orleans, a strong reinforcement who brings another big name to town, but who does not meet all the needs of the team, notably with spacing as weak as that of a business school student evening in a Parisian studio.
With CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy as the only viable shooters in the group, there are still a lot of things to change, and Ingram will not remedy that immediately. Its managers have already tested the market several times for its player, but either the offers are not numerous enough, or they are not generous enough. Bottom line, Brandon Ingram is still a Pelicans player at the time of writing, and there is no indication that things will change between now and the start of the season. We should therefore expect to see the player start the season with his current franchise.
Despite averages of 20.8 points at 49.2% shooting including 35.5% from Bourbon Street, 5.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game last seasonthe winger’s rating seems relatively low. These averages are indeed his lowest in the Pelicans jersey, and you have to go back to the Lakers era to see lower stats from him. But if in NOLA, we do not want to offer an unreasonable contract to our player, we also do not want to sell him off, he who was still an All-Star and Most Improved Player four years ago.
To envision a future away from Louisiana, BI will have to play and show itself in the best possible light while hoping to catch the eye of another franchise. In terms of leadership, it’s pretty bad since Brandon Ingram skipped the recovery and decided to stand apart from the rest of the group. Not great when the player is supposed to find himself a free agent in the summer of 2025, and for the moment, no one seems willing to take the risk of losing him to Peanuts, nor to take the risk of offering a sum that is too high to a player who has “regressed” for several years.
In the Pels offices, you will necessarily have to listen to the offers that will reach the managers, but also to the signals sent by their player. If communication and the atmosphere within the group deteriorate, then it will be necessary to stop the fees, and sell to the highest bidder, to avoid losing it “for free” in 2025. However, Brandon Ingram, who is in “contract year” has every interest in showing himself in his best light, otherwise his career will be put on the brake pedal.
In summary, this situation is currently at an impasse, as the market for wingers seems to be blocked. Potential suitors would not see their problems resolved with Brandon Ingram, who would therefore have to continue in the Bayou at least for a while, but until when?
