New Orleans Pelicans executive who is the executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin has expressed the team’s difficulty in trading star forward Brandon Ingram due to financial constraints imposed by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Despite mutual interest between the Pelicans and Ingram to extend their partnership, Ingram’s $158 million contract has made it challenging for the team to meet his financial expectations, thus making him a potential trade candidate.
Griffin highlighted the financial reality faced by the Pelicans, stating that the new CBA rules have rendered Ingram and other players “mechanically incapable” of being traded.
In a recent interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Griffin emphasized the Pelicans’ preference to retain Ingram, acknowledging the complexities imposed by the CBA on small-market teams.
Griffin underscored the team’s commitment to Ingram and their desire to see if the current roster configuration can lead to success, despite financial limitations.
“We’ve been really clear we prefer Brandon stay with us and Brandon’s been pretty clear he prefers to stay with us,” Griffin said. “There is a financial reality to this and where I think we can go in terms of keeping this group together might not be as far as he and his agency would like us to be able to go.”
During the offseason, Ingram was a subject of significant interest from other teams due to his on-court performance and potential, though his high salary demands pose a challenge for potential suitors.
“I think what happens is, when you don’t have to pay them, you want all of them. And then when you actually have to hand them $50 million a year, mechanically it gets complicated,” Griffin explained.
Griffin elaborated on the unique challenges presented by the CBA, noting that while Ingram’s value was high in trade discussions, the financial implications of his contract complicate any potential deals.
“There are a lot of guys that are mechanically incapable of being traded. Brandon’s somebody fortunately we have no real desire to trade, so it doesn’t matter,” Griffin added.
Ingram, coming off a season where he averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, remains a key asset for the Pelicans as they navigate roster decisions.
