3Q In: Pelicans Are Not Contenders

Ethen Meyers • March 2, 2023

        If you asked me when I wrote the first and second installment of this series if the 3/4 review would be they are not, compared to are they? I would have assumed a lot went wrong. Frankly, that feels mostly accurate. A lot has gone wrong. Excuses and excuses is what I have but I am writing this from a positive mind frame despite the Pelicans being outright frustrating to watch sometimes, they still hold a lot of upside with nothing but youth from the staff to the players. The Pelicans may not be contenders, and that happening this year required a lot to go right. We were #1 at one point and now risk missing the play in but all at the same time are only a few losses back in the loss column from 4th place. It has been a wild and confusing season, time to dive in and just point out one big positive, one negative, and one big concern.


        The youth. As I stated in the intro, this squad is still young. While not the youngest, if you remove Uncle GT from the count we drop in the youngest of young guns in the NBA. Zion is still only 22 and somehow got better despite not playing competitive basketball for what felt like a decade. Jose, Trey, and Herb are all under 25 and came from the same draft year and just 2nd year players. We have the pieces to build long term success, and I know a lot of folks were angry that we did not make a major move at the trade deadline but a part of me figured we would not. This is still not a destination city for NBA super stars, but I feel with time it will become one under the current leadership. The frustrating part is what appears to be a quick retract leash on the young guys. Temple getting time over Trey last year, Graham and Richardson getting a clear nod over guys we have seen grind out their playing time. I don't have a rhyme or reason for this, but I can say I have faith that long term, Willie Green will figure it out because he is the 5th youngest head coach in the association sitting at 41. I was one who gave up on Monty Williams early, and he comes from that tree, I am much more willing to see Willie Green work it out over swapping head coaches every other year.


        The energy. Man oh man the energy. What happened to it? We went from Zion breaking an unwritten rule and the team looking like they were best friends forever to... this. The guys just look defeated. We come out flat and feels like we are walking while everyone else is running. Even worse, we have made even the worst deficits into games time and time again. If the energy was there from tip, this team would be the same team we saw earlier in the season. This brings me to my point, the age while a positive, is also a negative. If you listen to Antonio Daniels talk about "young" teams and how you can discourage them. This seems to happen with the Pelicans. We seem to allow the moment to own us and not own the moment. Some folks say "Zion" some folks blame Willie. I am not sure who or what to blame, but this team is nearly identical to the team that knocked out the current GOAT LeBron and gave the championship winning Suns a run for their money in the first round.


        The issue. This is a theory, purely and 100% nothing but speculation. I want to really consider what happened in the shift and guys walking instead of running. My theory? Potential trouble in paradise with the Zion and Ingram deadly duo. Again, and I need to stress, this is SPECULATION, but I crave answers. I crave knowing what is going on and this year something is definitely going on. Last year Ingram knew this was his team for that time. Ingram is not a hugely vocal guy but we saw him come out of shell last year and become a young leader budding into his position. Start of the season, BI still had that "look". Then Ingram missed 27 straight games. In a bulk of those games Zion retook the league by storm nearly averaging 30PPG. Treated like the next super start, loved by fans far and wide not just in New Orleans. All of a sudden it looked like Zion's team, all of a sudden the KD rumors came back up. If I was Branon Ingram, and I am not, but if I was, I would certainly feel some type of way. People have short term memory in regards to success. The world of sports is a "what have you done for me.... lately?" world. It is the reason we watch sports. We want that thrill of our favorite team or our favorite player carrying "us" to a win. Zion did that, Zion did it really well. I can't help but think that without Zion everyone looked at Ingram and he carried us. Now people got a small taste of Zion and again, if I was Ingram, I would feel some type of way. He is young and it is easy to feel like people forgot what you did for them or how good you are. By no means do I believe if this is the issue would break up the duo, but I have attempted to think of every other possibility and not many of them make sense. This one hardly does, but I just can't help but feel the "energy" will return when the dynamics are worked out. I think BI and Zion can be an insane pairing for the future of the Pelicans and the future of the NBA, but with what feels like 2 total games played, it will take time.  The team is still looking to Ingram, but is he looking back?


Follow The Kneaux on Twitter.

A quick share helps us a lot!

This Facebook widget is no longer supported.

Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
Show More