League sources say that the Pelicans, no matter how the next few days play out for them, are trying to fortify their Zion Williamson/Brandon Ingram/Jonas Valančiūnas/Herbert Jones core. Translation: Valančiūnas and the emerging rookie defensive ace Jones are indeed off limits. That also means Josh Hart, who has had an outstanding season but who possesses a very tradeable contract, could indeed move this week.

Source: Marc Stein/Substack

ANALYSIS: Valančiūnas has entrenched himself as the team's center, averaging 18.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game this season while also making 40.5% of his threes on low volume. Jones, meanwhile, is emerging as one of the steals of the 2021 NBA Draft. The rookie wing is averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as a starter for the Pelicans, who have surged into the Play-In tier of the Western Conference.