New Orleans Pelicans: Why Brandon Ingram deserves a max contract, but will not get one

Forward Brandon Ingram has found a way to truly thrive for the New Orleans Pelicans. Will his great play be rewarded? Is it simply poor timing for him?

Throughout the history of the NBA, top draft picks can go one of three ways. First, we have the players who meet all expectations from the get-go. They are players who are miles ahead of their cohorts and are no-brainers at the top of the draft. These are players like LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and Anthony Davis.

Next, we have the busts. These are the players who NBA executives and scouts all had high expectations of. Typically, these are players who sat at the top of the big boards and had similar clout to other top dogs. Some players who fit this mold include Anthony Bennett, Kwame Brown, and Shawn Bradley.

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Finally, we have the late bloomers. These are players who were taken high in the draft and didn’t start their careers on the right foot. However, after a period of getting their feet wet, they turn things around. Ultimately, players that fit this mold end up becoming fairly solid contributors in the NBA. Surprisingly, some of these players include the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now, concerning Brandon Ingram, it would be safe to place him in the late bloomer category. His career started his career on a bumpy road, leading fans to label him as a bust. Before the 2019-2020 NBA Season, Ingram averaged a measly 13.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was heading down the path of obscurity.

Then, it all changed. Brandon Ingram was included in a package deal to the New Orleans Pelicans along with his teammates Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart in exchange for Anthony Davis. Finally! A fresh start with a team that welcomed Ingram with open arms. This was exactly what Ingram needed.

As such, Ingram has had the best season of his young career. So far, he’s averaged a career-high 25.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the New Orleans Pelicans. That output brought him his first NBA All-Star game nod and has made him one of the bright spots for a young Pelicans team. On top of that, the Pels sit 3.5 games out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. If that doesn’t tell you right there that Ingram’s impact has been significant, I don’t know what will.

That being said, come free agency Ingram will be a restricted free agent. Meaning, the New Orleans Pelicans can match any offer that Ingram gets from any other team. Obviously, Ingram will be striving for a max contract, especially given the magnitude of the season he has had so far. Clearly, his output warrants a max deal. Ingram netted a box plus-minus of +2.4, marking the first time in his career where he has done so. Could this be a sign of better things to come? Potentially.

Ingram’s Options

However, given the current market, it seems as though it would be tough for Ingram to get a max THIS YEAR. Simply put, most teams are not in the market for a wing that would be making the kind of coin that Ingram could expect to make. Interestingly enough, the only teams that will have any sort of substantial cap space would be the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, and New York Knicks. These aren’t the days of 2016 when every team seeming had infinite cash at their disposal.

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Now, could one of these teams offer Brandon Ingram a max contract? Sure. However, let’s look at the cases at hand. Atlanta doesn’t need another wing, as they have a plethora of them. With Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Cam Reddish already on the books, it would seem redundant to go after Ingram unless one or two of these players are moved.

Next, Detroit would most definitely have the capital to make an offer for Ingram. However, why? Considering the makeup of the Pistons as they currently stand, they are simply not in the right place to go after a big-name free agent. They will likely be looking to move on and finally commence their rebuild. So the Pistons would most likely be a no for me, dawg.

Finally, the Grizzlies and Knicks seem like intriguing landing spots for Ingram. The Grizzlies could use Ingram’s offensive abilities and the Knicks could use just about anybody with a pulse. However, it would appear that the Grizzlies like their current core and would rather use the money to help supplement their roster. As for the Knicks, I think Ingram’s smart enough to not leave a great situation in New Orleans.

Now, the Pelicans should do right by Ingram. Leading the team in scoring and taking the reigns during a period when Zion Williamson missed substantial time due to injury is quite telling. To me, Ingram has moved in a positive direction and is ready to be a key contributor in New Orleans for years to come.

Ultimately, it would appear that Brandon Ingram may not get the full max contract he is expecting, but he will likely get something close to it. As such, both sides will be happy and the New Orleans Pelicans can continue, building a team that is set to create havoc throughout the league for years to come.