NBA Star Brandon Ingram Reportedly Turned Down Major Contract

New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram reportedly down a contract worth $50 million a year

Feb 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Ingram are currently caught between a rock and a hard place. The team doesn't have the money to extend Ingram at a price he wants, the star wants to be traded, but his value is also lower because of his current ankle sprain.

With the way the dominoes are currently falling, it seems more likely that Ingram gets traded and not extended by the Pelicans. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Pelicans simply don't have the salary cap to give him what he wants.

"They've been really bouncing trade versus extension since the offseason," Charania said. "As it stands right now, because of their salary cap situation this year and the next years to come, an extension at even his current salary of $36 million, they just can't reach it as an organization, as of right now. That's what makes the trade route more likely."

Brandon Ingram reportedly turned down an extension from New Orleans last year that would have paid him $50 million per year, per @ShamsCharania

(h/t @PelsFilmRoom )

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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 10, 2024

Perhaps the most shocking news to come out of the Ingram trade saga was the fact that he reportedly turned down a $50 million contract extension. Now, it looks like the Pelicans can't even match a $36 million extension.

"When you think about the last couple of off-seasons, Brandon Ingram turned down an extension of $50 million per year in 2023, and an extension of about $40 million from what I'm told this past offseason," Charania said. "I expected him to have a robust market between now and the deadline."

It's tough to say if Brandon Ingram will ever receive an offer of $50 million a year again, but he likely won't ever be getting it from the Pelicans again.

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