NBA Trade Rumors: New Orleans Pelicans Ready to Hand Brandon Ingram a Huge Extension

After losing Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans might have ended up at the bottom of the league for years. However, as of now, they have a great young core led by the former #1 pick Zion Williamson.

Zion was probably one of the most hyped draft prospects to enter the league, but he is yet to prove himself. On the other hand, the Pels have another young star in the making, one they received from the Lakers.

The 23-year-old Brandon Ingram bloomed as a legit star with the Pelicans this season. He made his first-ever All-Star selection and won the 2020 NBA Most Improved Player award as well.

Considering his excellent season, Ingram will be expecting a huge contract from New Orleans. According to The Athletic’s Will Guillory, the Pels plan to fulfill Ingram’s wishes soon.

“As far as Brandon Ingram goes, I heard basically throughout the entire year that it was just a matter of time before they gave him his big contract. I think they feel really good about his fit with this team and the growth he showed last year.

“As a shooter, as the guy who was willing to take on the responsibility of being that No. 1 scorer, the guy who has that kind of burden every night, I think they love his fit next to Zion.

“So I think he’s going to get a huge contract. And they’re going to take care of that really quickly.”

The Pelicans would love to keep the young forward combo of Ingram and Williamson intact. Especially since they have the potential to lead the franchise to an NBA title in the future.

What’s next for the New Orleans Pelicans?

The 2019-20 NBA season was yet another disappointing campaign for the organization. They finished with a record of just 30-42, which was not enough to qualify for the Playoffs. In fact, in the last 5 seasons, they have made it to the postseason just once.

But with Zion and Ingram expected to lead the team next year, they should be able to lock in a place in the Top-8 teams. However, as of now, winning an NBA title might seem like a far-fetched dream for the New Orleans Pelicans.