The NBA arena is always full of exciting and unexpected plots. The list goes on and on how a player goes from obscurity to All-Star and then falls into the slump for a variety of reasons and finally regains glory. Recently, another young All-Star has experienced such ups and downs, which has sparked a lot of attention inside and outside the league. That player is Julius Ingram of the Pelicans.
When it comes to Julius Ingram, I believe most NBA fans will be familiar with it. In the 2016 draft, Ingram was selected by the Lakers with the second overall pick and became the Lakers' future star at the time. In his first three seasons with the Lakers, Ingram showed excellent all-around ability, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team in 2018-19. In the summer of 2019, Ingram was traded to the Pelicans as a trade chip, opening a new chapter in his career.
In the first two seasons with the Pelicans, Ingram played quite well. In 2019-20, he averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and was named to the NBA All-Star team. In the 2020-21 season, his stats declined, but he still averaged 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game to win the All-Star award again. There's no doubt that as the Pelicans' No. 1 scorer, Ingram is growing to become one of the best young stars in the league.
However, in the just-concluded 2021-22 playoffs, everything changed. In the Pelicans' 4-0 defeat to the Thunder, Ingram's performance was disastrous. He averaged just 14.3 points per game, shooting 34.5 percent from the field and just 25 percent from three-point range. Such an inefficient performance not only failed to become the team's reliance, but became a burden. To make matters worse, Ingram has also reportedly had an affair with head coach Willie Green
Quarrelling, demanding more possession. This incident undoubtedly exacerbated the contradictions between Ingram and the team.
This is undoubtedly a huge blow to the former All-Star star. Originally, Ingram could have signed a four-year, $208 million mega contract extension with the team, but now it seems that this $208 million contract may also be in vain.
What caused Ingram to fall from an All-Star in his peak to his current status as an "outcast"? With so many teams chasing him, what will his future hold? This NBA suspense plot that has attracted widespread attention, let's explore it together.
First of all, Ingram's disastrous performance in the playoffs last season was undoubtedly the most direct reason why he became an outcast. In the course of the Pelicans' 4-0 defeat to the Thunder, Ingram's stats fell across the board, averaging just 14.3 points per game, shooting 34.5% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Such an inefficient performance disappointed the fans who had hoped that he could become the team's reliance.
Ingram has reportedly had an altercation with Green over demanding more possession. This move undoubtedly exacerbated the contradiction between him and the team. As the team's head coach, Green obviously will not tolerate such a request from a player, so he will inevitably limit Ingram's possession in the future, which will undoubtedly further affect Ingram's performance.
We know that in the 2020 playoffs, Ingram missed the entire playoffs with a knee injury. Although he has been playing normally in the regular season since then, there are still concerns about his physical condition. If Ingram suffers another major injury, it will inevitably greatly affect his performance, which is undoubtedly a huge concern for the Pelicans.
As a young All-Star, Ingram could have signed a four-year, $208 million super-contract with the Pelicans. However, after last season's sluggish performance, the Pelicans are clearly reluctant to pay him such a generous salary again. After all, a $208 million contract is a huge expense for a team, and it would be a heavy burden if Ingram's future performance doesn't meet expectations.
In summary, the main reasons for Ingram's outcast are: poor performance in the playoffs last season, conflicts with the head coach, injury problems, and high annual salary. The combination of these factors made the Pelicans finally make the decision to abandon Ingram.
Although Ingram has been relegated to an outcast, he is still sought after by many teams. Four teams, including the 76ers, Cavaliers, Hawks and Magic, are reportedly interested in Ingram and ready to launch a fierce chase for the Pelicans in free agency.
Despite a sluggish playoff season last season, he still averaged 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in the regular season. That's still the top level in the league. Ingram is undoubtedly a very tempting target for teams that need to bolster their attacking end.
Ingram's contract terms are favorable. A former All-Star, Ingram still has one year and around $36 million on his contract. This is undoubtedly a very good deal for teams that need to bring in high-paid stars. Even if Ingram's future performance doesn't return to its peak, such a contract condition wouldn't pose much risk to the team.
Even if he can't be the heart of the team, Ingram can still play an excellent supporting role. Teams such as the 76ers, Cavaliers, Hawks and Magic already have clear core players, and Ingram can be a useful addition to them to improve the team's overall competitiveness.
To sum up, although Ingram has experienced a career low and has been reduced to an outcast of the Pelicans, he is still favored by many teams. This is largely due to his continued attacking prowess, huge talent potential, generous contract conditions, and ability to be a useful addition to the team.
In the future, how Ingram will counterattack and regain the glory status of an All-Star will undoubtedly become a very eye-catching topic in the NBA. Regardless of which team he ends up joining, I'm sure Ingram will still be able to regain his former glory form as long as he can regain his form. Of course, this requires him to first overcome his inner frustrations, adjust his mentality, and write a new chapter in his career.