Brandon Ingram isn't in control of his own future

Brandon Ingram is in the final year of his five-year $181 million deal. The one-time All-Star will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. He failed to agree to terms on a contract extension during the 2024 offseason. 

Over the past six months, speculation has surrounded Ingram's future in New Orleans as he's been linked in multiple trade rumors. However, his ability to leave a franchise for nothing in the summer is likely limiting interest in his services. Ingram would need to guarantee a franchise that he would re-sign.

According to a report by Jake Fischer, Ingram's name rarely appears in discussions of the NBA. Furthermore, Fischer noted that New Orleans was still open to retaining Ingram beyond this season, assuming it could reach a viable contract agreement.

"I'm told that the Pelicans still remain open to re-signing Ingram this summer after the sides were unable to agree to a contract extension this past offseason," Fischer wrote. "Ingram, sources said, was not amenable to New Orleans' offers that landed in the $40 million range in average annual value. Yet it could well be just as challenging for Ingram, who makes $36 million this season, to find that type of money available on the open market this summer — just as is often said about Jimmy Butler's quest for a high-dollar contract if the back-with-Miami Butler declines his $52.4 million player option for 2025-26."

If Ingram believes he's worth such a lofty contract, he will likely need the Pelicans to sanction a sign-and-trade in the summer. This would shift negotiating power away from Ingram and back to the Pelicans. Therefore, Ingram has very little control over his future. His best choice would be to re-sign with New Orleans and improve his value around the league while waiting for a trade to materialize. 

New Orleans has plenty of roster decisions to make. Zion Williamson's future has been a key discussion point in recent weeks. If the front office decides to reset, Ingram could be a valuable trade chip. Of course, that would mean finding a compromise with his current contract demands. 

In truth, Ingram is unlikely to secure a $40 million-per-year payday. Instead, he will likely sign for closer to $30 million, which, in the modern NBA, with multiple restrictions for luxury tax teams, is a valuable salary-matching tool. 

Ingram may be an impending free agent, but he needs the Pelicans to play ball. Otherwise, he may look back on the contract he rejected last summer with regret, especially if he can't draw similar interest from other teams in the NBA.