During a conference call with media on Tuesday, David Griffin gave some insight into how upcoming extension negotiations with Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram could play out. Ingram will enter restricted free agency this off-season while Ball will be extension-eligible as well.
Griffin discussed some of the complications when it comes to the cap and how the season’s uncertainty adds to that. But Griffin also revealed the team is confident it can retain both Ball and Ingram in the upcoming offseasons.
“We’re looking at this from a standpoint of we believe very strongly that Lonzo (Ball) and Brandon (Ingram) want to be apart of the future here and we anticipate that that happens. And we’re going to continue work from that vantage point because they’ve been very, very clear in their desires to continue their careers here.”
Shams Charania noted during the lockout that the expectation was for Ball and the Pelicans to have extension discussions. Trying to determine what his extension would look like even before the pandemic would have been complicated enough, though.
The fact Ball and Ingram want to stay in New Orleans, though, should not come as a surprise. Both have experienced different forms of breakout seasons. Ingram blossomed in his fourth season, earning an All-Star appearance.
Ball’s progression came later in the season but featured some of the best games of his career, including back-to-back career-best scoring performances shortly before the season stopped.
The Pelicans will have the ability to retain both players. As it stands currently, only JJ Redick and Jrue Holiday are on non-rookie, eight-figure deals next season.
