Pelicans agree to contract extensions with Brandon Ingram, Steven Adams

The New Orleans Pelicans and Brandon Ingram agreed to a maximum five-year contract extension worth $158 million, Ingram’s agents Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ingram passed on a more modest extension offer a year ago after arriving from Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade. 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. https://t.co/SFLtBdX3p5

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 24, 2020

The 23-year-old Duke product who was acquired in last year’s Anthony Davis trade to the L.A. Lakers was an All-Star in his first season with the Pelicans. Ingram averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Orleans.

Ingram entered the NBA offseason as a restricted free agent.

The team also announced Tuesday that newly-acquired center Steven Adams, part of this month’s blockbuster Jrue Holiday trade involving four teams, has also agreed to a contract extension:

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Pelicans and center Steven Adams have agreed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Adams, 7-0, 265, who was acquired by New Orleans in a four-team trade involving Denver, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Thunder, appearing in 530 career regular season games, holding averages of 9.8 points on .589 shooting from the field, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks. The New Zealand native appeared in 63 games in 2019-20, averaging 10.9 points on .592 shooting from the floor, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks. Selected 12th overall out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NBA Draft, Adams ranks fifth all-time in OKC/Seattle franchise history in blocks (531) and first in field goal percentage.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe reports the extension for the 27-year old Adams is for two-years and $35 million. The 6-11 native of New Zealand was under contract for just one more season.