The Pelicans face harsh roster realities as trade options dry up

One month into NBA free agency and the New Orleans Pelicans' roster is still far from settled, leading to major questions. At the moment, they don't have a starting center, a major concern heading into late summer.

The Pelicans let Jonas Valanciunas leave in free agency, expecting to find a better option this summer. Letting him leave was the right call, though they have yet to find a viable replacement, with the Atlanta Hawks declining to move Clint Capela in the Dejounte Murray deal. 

Another potential target, Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, recently signed an extension and is off the board for the next six months. With their two most likely trade options unavailable, there isn't a clear backup plan. They could pursue Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez or Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. 

However, the Bucks likely won't give up Lopez without the Pelicans giving up Herb Jones or Trey Murphy and the Jazz may want two firsts for Kessler, who wasn't even a full-time starter for them. Then there is the future of star Brandon Ingram, which remains uncertain.

Can the New Orleans Pelicans salvage their summer?

With the league waiting for the Lauri Markkanen situation to be resolved, Ingram's future is still in limbo. No team appears to want to trade for him since it would mean that they would have to pay him after next season but moving him is the Pelicans' best way to acquire a center. 

If no deal occurs, then the Pelicans won't have the matching salary to trade for a starting big man, with teams also likely unwilling to take on CJ Column's deal. Going into the season with a big hole in the front court season seems like an awful idea, and while they would likely fill that hole with stop-gap options, they play in a conference that has big names such as Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, and Domontas Sabonis.

There is the possibility that a team such as the Jazz or Detroit Pistons will show interest in Ingram. That doesn't appear likely at the moment so the Pelicans may be forced to play wait and see in the hopes that Ingram can raise his value during the season or that a center trade target materializes.