EDIT: Check out the updated v3 here!
TL;DR
Trade Ingram to Cleveland for LeVert & Allen.
Trade LeVert, '27 Bucks pick, & '28 Lotto Protected Pels pick to Milwaukee for Portis.
Picks could differ, maybe Cavs send picks to Bucks instead of Pels
Draft Kal'el Ware with Lakers pick (#18).
Pels Lineup
CJ / Jose
Herb / Hawkins
TM3 / Dyson
Zion / Portis
Allen / Kal'el Ware (Pick #18) / Nance
Detailed Explanation
Zion is an All-NBA caliber player. He is better than Brandon Ingram and unfortunately them not fitting means the more expendable one (maybe) has to go. Ingram is AWESOME, but he is not on Zion's level. I truly hope he is able to become an all-star again, I just don't see that being in Louisiana. The Pelicans have a glaring gap at Center. Jonas is a professional and a wonderful player, as is Nance. Unfortunately, they each have a glaring issue. Nance can be bullied due to his height and JV is too slow to defend on switches which makes him a liability in the Pelicans' defensive scheme.
Allen to New Orleans has been in discussions for months now, and I think I've finally come around to the idea. Assuming guys like JJJ, Mobley, and Chet are untouchable, I think New Orleans' best option is to pair Zion with Jarrett Allen.
Allen can alleviate the issues that each current Pels big brings around. He is an all-around defensive beast. I shudder to think what a combination of Herb Jones and Jarrett Allen can do to opposing teams. Allen is big enough not to get bullied down low or on the boards, and he has the footspeed to keep up with smaller guards. Not to mention that his shot blocking is some of the best in the NBA. With Trey Murphy replacing Ingram in the starting unit, there will be more than enough room for Zion to reach his peak potential.
Assuming Naji Marshall walks this off-season, Portis is a solid fit to replace him. He is by no means the same level of athlete or perimeter defender as Naji, but his size, rebounding, and scoring is on a greater level and his shooting is a step up.
Picking a guy like Kal'el Ware in the draft with the Lakers pick is a great choice I think. He can develop behind Allen and be a big body who can maybe turn into what Pels fans hoped Jaxson Hayes could be. He has shown off a clean shooting stroke too. It may not be knockdown but could be someone who develops a shot during his career. Whatever happens, neither JV nor Nance should be starting for New Orleans next year.