If we assume Zion Williamson is off the board for now, that leaves Brandon Ingram as the biggest asset with an actual chance to be moved.
The one-time All-Star showed up in rumors involving a Scoot Henderson deal around the draft, which indicates New Orleans isn’t totally committed to Ingram as Zion’s top running mate.
Ingram will earn $33.8 million this year and $36 million in 2024-25, right around market value for a 26-year-old who’s averaged at least 22.7 points per game in each of the last four years.
Like Ingram, McCollum’s fit with Zion is also questionable. The Pelicans might prefer a purer point guard who can defend, though the 32-year-old’s pedigree as a shooter at least makes him an offensive complement to Williamson.
McCollum is under contract for three years and $99.8 million, but his deal declines every season, bottoming out at $30.7 million in 2025-26.
If New Orleans needs to sweeten up a package sending out Ingram, McCollum, Jonas Valančiūnas or any other starter deemed nonessential, it has the picks to do it. The Pelicans own their 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 selections, and they’ve also got plenty of extras coming from the Lakers and Bucks. New Orleans can take Los Angeles’ 2024 or 2025 first-rounder and could collect firsts from the Bucks in 2025 (top-four protected), 2026 (swap) and 2027 (unprotected).
