All summer, one of the biggest storylines in the NBA revolved around what the future would hold for New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.

In his search for a lucrative contract extension that the team refused to grant him, rumors of a move began to circulate. It felt like it was a matter of when, not if, that the former No. 2 would move.

Ingram no longer fit into their long-term plans, which sparked the speculation. Although numerous trade ideas were exchanged, nothing came to fruition as the Pelicans appeared intent on keeping him on the roster until the start of the regular season.

That ended up being a good thing, as the team was left without wing strength or playmakers on offense due to injuries to Trey Murphy in training camp and Dejounte Murray in the season opener.

As soon as the team is healthy again, rumors of a change are likely to increase. New Orleans would benefit from balancing its roster and finding a more established player under center to avoid putting too much on rookie Yves Missi’s plate.

One of the teams mentioned as potential trade candidates for Ingram was the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately, you can almost certainly cross them off the list at this point since they suffered a devastating injury on Monday night.

In the game against the Dallas Mavericks, which ended in a 110-102 loss, forward Taylor Hendricks suffered a horrific right fibula fracture and ankle dislocation.

“It’s hard to take,” Hardy said of Hendricks’ injury, via ESPN’s Tim Macmahon. “He did a lot of hard work. He’s a great kid and so we’re really just trying to focus on him, on his health, on keeping him fit, on his spirits as he starts the road to recovery. But that’s what they are.” The moments in sports that suck.

Midway through the third quarter, the 2023 first-round pick from Central Florida collapsed to the ground even though there was no contact. A stretcher was immediately brought out and he was placed in a protective boot.

As his season ends, the Jazz’s starting lineup and rotation will change. John Collins could once again assume the role of starting power forward, likely putting the Jazz out of the Ingram sweepstakes.

In sham trades between the two teams, Collins and Walker Kessler traveled to New Orleans in exchange for the former All-Star forward. A separation of two frontline players after Hendricks’ injury seems unlikely.

The Pelicans will have to look elsewhere if they ultimately decide that trading Ingram is the right path. Depending on how the 2024-25 season develops in the next few weeks, other teams could certainly be considered as trade candidates.