06-17-2024, 11:47 AM
(06-17-2024, 11:15 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: @TheDunkCentral
The New Orleans Pelicans are unwilling to pay Brandon Ingram an average of $52 million annually, per @cclark_13
“Brandon Ingram has one year remaining on his contract. On July 6, he becomes eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $208 million. The Pelicans value Ingram’s talent and his down-to-earth personality, but as The Times-Picayune reported in May, the team does not have a willingness to pay him a contract worth $52 million in average annual value.”
Kyrie’s deal last summer may end up being a harbinger of things to come for these “stars” who are not ‘face of the league’ superstars. In the past teams just gave out 25% and 30% max deals like Oprah gave out gifts to members of the audience. You get a Max and You get a Max. Many of these contracts were mistakes in retrospect. Now the CBA severely punishes those mistakes.
One of the hardest negotiations out there will be those guys who maybe got a 25% max at the end of their rookie scale but aren’t worth the extra $15mm/year they might get in a 35% max situation. We as fans probably know the difference between Luka and Ingram, but a team having to explain it to one of its best players will be a tough conversation.