But New Orleans' ongoing injury issues played out like the league's saddest broken record, the loss column swelled to 61 (second-highest in franchise history), Brandon Ingram was sent packing at the deadline and former front-office architect David Griffin was shown the exit at season's end.

"It became clear to me in talking to the parties involved just how serious the Wolves were about trying to trade for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on his Hoop Collective podcast.

Tim Connelly recently spoke about the second apron, and some could think he was hinting at a Kevin Durant trade.