NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 trades to put the Magic back in the Orlando Magic

4. New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans gets: Evan Fournier, Shelvin Mack

Orlando gets: Solomon Hill, Omar Asik, first-round Pick (from New Orleans)

The Pelicans have two of the best, young big men in the league on their roster. Both Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins have been selected as 2018 NBA All-Star starters. However, New Orleans still sits at 26-21, currently in sixth place in the loaded Western Conference.

They need to do something to become a legit contender, and they don’t have much they can offer in return. This move would allow them to bring in the shooting, court-vision, and savvy of Fournier, and the solid, backup guard play of Shelvin Mack. It would add some versatility, outside scoring, and depth to a team hoping to make themselves an attractive place for Cousins to stick around.

It would cost them the contracts of Solomon Hill and Omer Asik, as well as their 2018 first-round Pick to do so.

The pick is a steep asking price, but the Pelicans don’t have much else they’d be able to offer in terms of expiring contracts or young talent. Hill and Asik both have additional years on the contracts, so the Magic would have to ask for something else to sweeten the deal.

The move would again prey on the desperation of a team looking to contend, and keep hold of a soon-to-be superstar free agent without the luxury of young assets or expiring contract to offer up in return.

It’s ruthless. It’s cutthroat. It’s just what you need to start an aggressive franchise rebuild.