New Orleans Pelicans first-time All-Star Brandon Ingram has been having the best season of his entire career. Interestingly, the 22-year-old is currently still on his rookie-scale deal, and will be entering free agency by the end of this current season.
It is worth noting, though, that Ingram will be a restricted free agent, which means that the Pelicans will have the option to match whatever offer any other team puts on the table. In a recent interview by ESPN's Tim Bontemps, an anonymous league executive said that for their sake, New Orleans should not even risk losing their prized star.
“Securing the extra year and not allowing him to sign a two-plus-one with someone is worth it,” the executive said. “Is the few million less you might save really worth the extra year?”
According to this unnamed source, it would be in the Pelicans' best interest to offer Ingram the max extension. In his mind, the 6-foot-7 forward is definitely worth the money.
In the opinion of another anonymous executive, however, he believes that Ingram has not done enough to cement himself as a max-caliber player.
“I wonder if [Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin] will hardball [Ingram] and say, ‘Get an offer,'” one executive asked. “Where is he getting it from?”
There's no doubt that Ingram's signature will be hotly-contested if and when he enters free agency. Whether or not he is offered a max deal, though, is an altogether different matter.
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