Exposure: The Reason for the Pelicans Trading Ingram is His Pursuit of a $200 Million Contract, Not Due to Lack of Ability

On July 10th, it was reported that Brandon Ingram was seeking a contract worth a total of $200 million during the off-season.

Earlier, renowned sports journalist Brian Windhorst mentioned in a program that the reason why the Pelicans wanted to trade Ingram was not because he isn’t a good player, but rather because he was looking for a $200 million extension contract, which they were unwilling to offer him. Thus, regardless of which team trades for him, the underlying reality is that of a player seeking a $200 million renewal.

Ingram’s most recent contract was for $158.3 million over five years, with the 2024-25 season being the last year of this deal, earning him $36 million. He is currently eligible for a four-year, $208 million extension contract. If he doesn’t renew, he will enter the unrestricted free agent market next summer. At present, there is still a possibility of Ingram renewing his contract with the Pelicans.

Renowned sports journalist William Guillory mentioned in his report regarding Ingram’s situation: if Ingram isn’t traded by the Pelicans, both parties may reach an agreement that satisfies them.

In the recently concluded season, Ingram averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 49.2%, a three-point percentage of 35.5%, and a free-throw percentage of 80.1%. His average of 15.9 shots per game was also the least since he joined the Pelicans.