The Pelicans have to win now. DeMarcus Cousins is a free agent next year. If the Pelicans don’t do well next year, he may leave. So for this exercise, I will look at a way to help improve the Pelicans immediately.
The Philadelphia 76ers don’t have many “win now” types of players they would be willing to trade. Covington will not be traded in this scenario. Holmes would help, but the Pelicans don’t need another center. Saric would too, but the Pelicans don’t have enough to give back Philadelphia. Stauskas would be a good choice.