76ers trade for young All-Star forward in this mock offseason swap

Why the Pelicans should do this trade

New Orleans has one of the most talented and young rosters in the NBA, but they have little postseason succes to show for it, having won just two playoff games in the last three years. Getting swept this time out of the playoffs, sans Zion Williamson, only reinforces the fact that they have to make some big changes to not disrupt their sterling prospects.

Trading Ingram, a 20-5-5 guy, would be a massive loss on paper, but in reality, the Pelicans can more than absorb the recoil from taking him out of the fold. Trey Murphy III has the potential to be a big-time scorer with more usage and a cemented role, and Herb Jones’ presence as a defensive linchpin has been boosted by his growth on the offensive end.

The Pels badly need to rework the dynamics of their roster, and everything, of course, starts with having the necessary resources to make the said changes. Trading Ingram, while getting three first-rounders at best and a workable rotation player in Reed (should they elect to keep him), would not only re-solidify the footing of theirother players, but also arm them with significant cap space to improve the roster around Zion.