Insider Drops Latest on Brandon Ingram Trade Talks

The New Orleans Pelicans have been "aggressively" trying to trade Brandon Ingram since the summer, as the team is obviously not comfortable giving him the huge extension he desires. Ingram will be a free agent at season's end.

But according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, finding a trade partner for the one-time All-Star has been challenging.

Sources told ESPN the two sides can’t agree on a contract extension and trade talks since last summer have failed to align. Finding a place where New Orleans can send Ingram’s $36 million salary and get value while also reducing salary -- the Pelicans are currently in the luxury tax for the first time ever and not likely to stay there -- is hard enough. But finding a deal with a team Ingram will be comfortable signing a new contract with has also stalled talks, per sources.

Ingram has averaged at least 20 points per game for six consecutive seasons—he's at 22.8 ppg this year, with 5.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 36.4% from long range.

The Pelicans have been rocked by injuries all season and sit in dead last in the Western Conference at 4-16, currently riding a 7-game losing streak going into Saturday's games.

It makes sense for them to move on from Ingram if they can find a taker, and tank the season for their best shot at a high draft pick. They'll have two first-rounders in the 2025 Draft, their own and the LA Lakers'.