NBA Rumors: Teams 'Fearful' of Expensive Contracts amid Brandon Ingram, Randle Buzz
The NBA's new collective bargaining agreement has left many teams "fearful of locking themselves into expensive contracts for players who don't win at the highest level."
William Guillory and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic provided the report, citing New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle as players in "awkward spots" because of the CBA.
"Under the new collective bargaining agreement, so many teams are fearful of locking themselves into expensive contracts for players who don't win at the highest level. It's left guys such as Ingram and Randle in awkward spots. They've got the talent and track records of players who can impact the game nightly. But any team that may be interested in either of these guys has to ask themselves two tough questions:
"Can we be a title contender with Ingram/Randle as one of our two best players? If not, why deal with the financial restrictions that come with paying them max money?"
Bleacher Report's Bryan Toporek broke down the penalties that come with going higher above the salary cap in the new CBA, namely what happens when a team hits the "second apron." In essence, it's incredibly penal for teams to go high above the cap, so teams better get it right with their personnel if they plan to do so.
So the question is whether teams could be scared of acquiring players like Ingram and Randle, who are immensely talented but haven't yet showcased an ability to "win at the highest level," as The Athletic noted.
Ingram is averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists over 18 contests. His season has been cut short by injury, and he is currently out with a high-grade low left ankle sprain.
Ingram is in a contract year, and ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks reported on Dec. 31 that trading him "is the priority" for New Orleans before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Randle is posting 19.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his first year in Minnesota, who acquired the 30-year-old and Donte DiVincenzo via trade from the New York Knicks for Karl-Anthony Towns last offseason. He has a 2025-26 player option for $30.9 million but can decline it to become a free agent.
It'll certainly be interesting to see where those two players land next year, considering their talent but also with the new CBA in mind.
