NBA Trade Deadline 2016: 10 players who are off limits

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Dec 26, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a dunk against the Houston Rockets during the first at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

4. player. 69. . Power Forward. New Orleans Pelicans. Anthony Davis

In an almost identical situation as fellow former Kentucky Wildcat and No. 1 overall draft pick John Wall, the New Orleans Pelicans need to rebuild around their star former one-and-done Kentucky phenom in power forward Anthony Davis.

Many thought that Davis was a favorite to win NBA MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 as the catalyst for a dynamic Pelicans team making its first deep run in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Switching coaches from Monty Williams to Alvin Genty along with general manager Dell Demps putting together one of the weakest rosters in the NBA has the Pelicans in 12th place in the West at 20-33, all but out of playoff contention, as they are 6.5 games back of the Utah Jazz for the No. 8 seed.

New Orleans needs to re-evaluate how to build a winner this offseason so that they won’t waste another year of Davis’ prime. The problem is that besides Davis, the Pelicans have very few assets (Ryan Anderson) that they could send in a trade to hopefully make their team better. Davis signed a massive deal in the offseason. He’s in the Crescent City for a long time. Hopefully the front office can learn from 2015-16’s failure of a season in NOLA.

Next: 3. Kawhi Leonard

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