Restricted free agent forward Brandon Ingram has agreed to a maximum contract extension, agent Jeff Schwartz told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The extension is worth $158 million over five years.
“Ingram passed on a more modest extension offer a year ago after arriving from Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade,” Wojnarowski wrote. “He counted on a bigger role to elevate his performance and earning power, and it did. Ingram earned a Western Conference All-Star berth and now cashes in on max deal.”
Ingram, 23, is 6-foot-7 and was the No. 2 overall pick out of Duke in 2016. He flourished in his first season next to Zion Williamson in the Pelicans’ frontcourt — with Ingram averaging a career-high 23.8 points, career-high 6.1 rebounds and career-high 4.2 assists.
The Pelicans just missed the playoffs and have hired a new coach in the always energetic Stan Van Gundy. President of basketball operations David Griffin has also pulled off several notable moves during the shortened offseason.
Along with the Ingram extension, the Pelicans added Eric Bledsoe from the Milwaukee Bucks and center Steven Adams from the Oklahoma City Thunder, dealing guard Jrue Holiday to the Bucks.
They also drafted Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. with the No. 13 overall pick.
Training camp is slated to begin Dec. 1.
