Like LaVine, Brandon Ingram has been all over trade rumors, fake-trade articles and other reports for at least a year.

And after injuries helped push the New Orleans Pelicans to last place in the West, they should be even more motivated to turn those rumors into an actual deal.

At one point, it almost felt inevitable New Orleans would flip Ingram for a center, but rookie Yves Missi has been better than expected. And after this first quarter of the season, the Pelicans probably shouldn't be looking at win-now trades anymore.

Even with CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III all recently filtering back into the rotation, it will be nearly impossible to make up enough ground to even be in the Play-In Tournament.

Instead, New Orleans should be angling for more forward-looking deals. This one gives the Pelicans a first-round pick, something teams are going to be hesitant to give up for a player on an expiring contract who's looking for a raise this coming summer. It also gives them an intriguing 21-year-old wing who hasn't been able to crack the Oklahoma City Thunder's crowded rotation.

Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins aren't just salary filler, either. Assuming Zion Williamson comes back this season, both would fit in well around him and alongside other versatile wing and forward defenders like Jones and Murphy.

For the Thunder, this deal simply might not be necessary. They're already playing like a championship contender, and Dort's perimeter defense is a big part of that.

But making Ingram, a former All-Star who's averaging 22.2 points, 5.2 assists and 2.4 threes, their super sixth man might make them the favorite, even in a league with the Boston Celtics. This deal would likely force OKC to move Alex Caruso into Dort's starting spot. That defense is important for the first five. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams would obviously take the other two guard and/or wing spots. And whenever Chet Holmgren is ready to return, he and Isaiah Hartenstein can play together on the front line.

That would leave Ingram to absolutely dominate second units as a scorer-for-hire for a few months (that would hopefully end with a championship).

If it went swimmingly, OKC could try to re-sign Ingram for less than the max. If he wanted out, the Thunder are in a better position than most to let him walk. They would still be a contender in 2025-26.