NOVEMBER 30: Ingram has officially signed his new max contract with the Pelicans, the team announced today (via Twitter).
NOVEMBER 24: The top restricted free agent of 2020 is officially off the board, as the Pelicans and forward Brandon Ingram have reached an agreement on a five-year, maximum-salary contract, agents Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). The deal will be worth $158.25MM over five seasons.
Ingram, who was ranked No. 2 on our list of 2020’s top free agents, figures to sign the biggest free agent contract of the ’20 offseason, unless Anthony Davis opts for a long-term deal with the Lakers.
After being traded from Los Angeles to New Orleans as part of the package for Davis in 2019, Ingram – who was coming off a blood clot issue that prematurely ended his 2018/19 season – turned down a “more modest” extension offer from the Pelicans, per Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Ingram’s bet on himself paid off in a big way, as he morphed into the Pelicans’ go-to scorer in 2019/20, averaging 23.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 4.2 APG with a .463/.391/851 shooting line in 62 games (33.9 MPG). The 23-year-old also made an All-Star team for the first time in his career, setting himself up for a maximum-salary deal with New Orleans.
Although Ingram and the Pelicans took a few days to formally reach an agreement, this outcome was always expected — New Orleans would have matched any offer sheet the 6’7″ forward signed, so it made sense for the two sides to negotiate directly and take their time to get something done.
Ingram, whose new contract will run through 2025, represents one of the cornerstone pieces in the Pelicans’ rebuild, alongside Zion Williamson. A young core that also includes Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, Kira Lewis Jr., and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be complemented in 2020/21 by newly-acquired veterans Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe, as well as sharpshooter J.J. Redick.
With Ingram back under contract, the Pelicans’ major offseason moves should be complete. The team has a tiny of bit of breathing room below the tax line and doesn’t plan to fill its 15th roster spot with another guaranteed contract for now, per Will Guillory of The Athletic.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I honestly haven’t seen the pelicans or Ingram play that much, is this a good contract?
yes. very good
New trend
The blood clot issue is very concerning. I still remember Chris Bosh. I hope the best for this young man, but doubt he will play for too long if he’s on serious blood thinners.
I’m very much not a medical professional, but if I recall correctly, Ingram’s issue was considered more likely to be a one-time thing than a recurring issue like Bosh and others have had.
Still sad about trading ingram. Think he will turn into being a great player down the road, wish him all the best and hope he can make lakers regret the decision to trade him.
Lakers will never regret it. They won a ring. Even if they don’t ever win another one, there’s no regret on their side.
He was the only piece I was unhappy with trading, but I’m glad it wasn’t the Lakers giving him over $30M/year.
The Knicks should of at least offered a deal and had NO match.
When was the last time the knicks did anything right?
At least they didn’t trade their future to get up to pick Lemelo. That would’ve been classic knicks. They also didnt package their team to trade for Westbrook.
They’re not making big moves, but they also seem less dumb recently, which is big improvement.
And watch this off season the Knicks overpay Griffin or Rubio…
It’s simply impossible to overpay Rubio. Not enough money in the world.
This is the Knicks were talking about however… They would overpay for Valencunas if they could…
It’s better to not say anything and let people think your stupid then to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Maybee the Knicks are learning.
I like Ingram, but it was definitely worth including him in the package to acquire Davis. Ingram will likely have a very good career, but I think this contract is a bit of an overpay and he will never be close to AD’s level.
That really depends on how long Davis stays in LA. He could end up leaving in 2021, so is two seasons of AD really worth mortgaging the short-term future for the Lakers?
This team will be in the West finals in 2 years
Soulja Slim ready for war!!