Threes Pros Of Jonas

Dylan Mckneely • August 31, 2023

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, “the Pels need to trade Jonas” or “the Pels need a floor-spacing big that can protect the rim instead of Jonas.” One of the hottest talking points of the New Orleans Pelicans offseason is what will they do with Jonas Valanciunas. Multiple reports have surfaced about the Pels desire to move on from Valanciunas. According to Will Guillory and Jon Hollinger of The Athletics, some potential targets to replace JV are Jarrett Allen(Cleveland Cavaliers) and Isaiah Stewart(Detroit Pistons).


While Jonas lacks the athleticism or defensive acumen that may be desired from the Center position in this iteration of the New Orleans, here are three major pros to going into the 2023-2024 season with Jonas Valanciunas as the starting center of the Pels but before we jump in, let's ready your basketball palette with the hors d'oeuvre of watching Jonas put on a show against one of the best defensive teams in the league(Milwaukee Bucks) last year.




Shooting Capability


One of the hottest commodities in the NBA alongside a three and D, 6’8 wing player, is a floor spacing big man. Valanciunas ended the season as a 34.9% three point shooter on 1.4 attempts per game, which is good enough for fifth amongst NBA Centers. Usually these percentages decline with an increase in attempts, but statistics show otherwise for Jonas. During the 2021-2022 season Jonas carried a 36.1 three point percentage on 2.1 attempts per game. Jonas has the capability to be an above average floor spacing Center if given the opportunity to do so.


Shooting 54.7% from the field with a beneath the rim style of play, also shows the high level of efficiency that Jonas scores at from inside the three point line. While it may be the most simple way to space the floor, sitting your center behind the three point line is not the only way to space the floor. Placing JV in the dunker spot on Zion’s rim attacks forces the defense to choose between potentially ended up on the wrong side of a highlight dunk, or giving up the patented Jonas push floater. Or running the high low action often deployed by Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis during the 2017-2018 season, could be a highly effective scheme. Zion has shown the capability to make the free throw line jump shot, which could make doubling Jonas in the post a dangerous decision. Even if Zion chooses not to shoot the free throw line jumper, giving him space to pick up speed doesn’t sound like wisdom to me. With Jonas high and Zion low on this action, defenses would have to respect Jonas ability to shoot the midrange jumper at an efficient clip, which could give Zion more room to work.


The moral of the story is Jonas gives you the desired capability of making room for your stars to attack the rim and be playmakers. With the right kind of scheme in place, we may even see another level of play from all parties involved. Being apart of the 50/30/80 club is not as illustrious as the 50/40/90 club, but it is still very impressive.




Defensive Rebounding


Jonas averaged 7.3 defensive rebounds per game, which is good enough for 9th amongst centers in the NBA. This accomplishment is made even more astonishing when you learn that he played two minutes than the next individual on the top ten rebounding list at 24.9 minutes per game.


There’s not many things in life more amazing than a Zion Williamson or Trey Murphy III highlight reel fast break dunk. The easiest way to start the break, is to secure the defensive rebound. Jonas does this at an elite level. While he may not be the benefactor of many alley oops or fast break advance passes in his career, he has the ability to play the Kevin Love role of advancing the ball forward for his more athletic counterparts to put on a show for the fans.


On top of his high number of defensive rebounds, Jonas lead the league in total rebounding percentage which is the estimated percentage of available rebounds grabbed by the player while the player is on the court.


You still have the ability to play fast with a not so fast post player. The ball moves faster than any player on the floor. To have a big with the ability to secure the defensive rebound at a high rate and advance the ball, might not be the worst thing in the world to have.



Availability


The most important ability is availability and this sediment means even more for the often injury prone Pelicans. Jonas played in 80 of the possible 83 games of the Pels 2022-2023 season which ties him for fifth most in the entire NBA.


The gift of not worrying about who your starting Center will be on a nightly basis, should not be a forgotten commodity. Jonas gives you that ease of mind more than all but two other center in the NBA(Vucevic & Sabonis). Availability creates continuity, continuity creates chemistry, chemistry is the key ingredient to success.


JV and CJ McCollum often displayed this chemistry through the two man game they often ran seamlessly. While I would agree that the combo of Zion and Valanciunas often looked clunky and discombobulated at times, I would submit to you the idea that with time and continuity those rocky parts could’ve been smoothed out.


Jonas may not be everything you look for at the Center position in the modern NBA, but he is still a very skilled, more than serviceable basketball player. Could you find a better fit next to your star players? Possibly, but unless it’s he is a defensive staple in the NBA would it be worth it? That’s a question I will leave for you to answer.


- Dylan Mckneely (@DylanMckneely)

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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.
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