ESPN insider Zach Lowe believes New Orleans Pelicans small forward Brandon Ingram will get a max contract next summer in restricted free agency.

Ingram has been scoring the ball very well for the Pelicans despite New Orleans having a terrible record. Ingram will enter restricted free agency once the Pelicans offer him a $9,481,458 qualifying offer:

“Oh he's going to get the max,” Lowe said on The Lowe Post. “I don't think there's any question about that. By the way, I don't fault the Pelicans for not extending him (on a rookie-scale extension).”

As a restricted free agent, Ingram can sign an offer sheet with any team and then the Pelicans would have 48 hours to match the deal or let the talented swingman walk for nothing.

New Orleans acquired Ingram, along with Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart, in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ingram is averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on the season while shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from beyond the arc and 84.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Ingram is making $7,265,485 this season. He's going to get a huge payday over the summer. Whether that's from the Pelicans or some other team remains to be seen.