New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram saw his value jump leaps and bounds during the 2019/20 season, following his switch from the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
The 22-year-old showed lots of potential whilst in a Lakers uniform but never quite hit the heights he was expected to and, playing a season next to LeBron James hardly helped his case. Couple that with time spent on the sidelines due to injury and suspension, it was really a hopeless case for the small forward. He simply had to leave L.A.
With free agency approaching, Ingram is now expected to be one of the players who should land a max deal ahead of next season – whenever that is.
Per Danny Leroux of The Athletic, the 6ft 7in attacker is likely to get his bank either through an offer sheet or by re-signing with New Orleans.
“There are no clear already established All-NBA superstars in this wing class, but Brandon Ingram (23) stands out as by far the most likely to get his maximum either through an offer sheet or just re-signing directly with the Pelicans,” Leroux wrote on Wednesday. “The forward blossomed in his age-22 season, scoring 24 points per game with a remarkably efficient 59 percent True Shooting, by far the best of his career. The real eye-opener was Ingram’s three-point shooting because that makes him a better fit on a variety of teams and makes a lucrative offer sheet a virtual certainty.”
It was previously reported that the Pelicans will match whatever offer Ingram receives from other teams. Such is their desire to keep him a part of the exciting cast around rookie sensation Zion Williamson.