Between Kyrie’s craziness, Ben Simmons’ back, and LeBron’s chase of Kareem, Kevin Durant is getting a slide as he ages into his mid-thirties. And the Nets are a mess, as we’ve seen play out. The tweets didn’t get much attention at the time (thanks Elon), but KD walked in about an hour before tip like it was a beer-league game. Ben was already on the court halfway through a warmup. The receipts are public. There was a weird vibe in the hallways like maybe the best player in the rec-league run couldn’t get a babysitter and the rest of the squad was worried.

        But why burn that bridge with the Nets early, right Nick? They are neighbors after all and it’s a long season. The NYC media mob might laugh with Frank Isola in the workroom (hilarious, btw) but we are all looking to scoop the competition. Might as well find a negative angle on the Pelicans in the meantime. They’ll be moving the team to Louisville in three segments and a commercial break according to a blogger guest from Cleveland…yawn.

        New Orleans is too small a village for sports secrets. The FedEx driver dropping off cases of unsold ruffles to Anthony Davis is going to tell his friends if the door gets answered with a smile, or if the gate isn’t even opened to make things easy. The bartender on the Bayou St. John is going to talk about writing those papers for the one-and-done draft pick, and have the old party pics to prove they at least knew each other. The list goes on. At least 12 Pelicans fans knew about Stan Van Gundy flying into the MSY before Woj sent the tweet.

        The Big Easy is also too small to get too scrappy. Sure, everyone in the industry has a job to do, a job they want, and the job with a salary that would make a few more headaches worthwhile, even with the drastic changes in how the job is done now compared to when we were all kids. Those days before Woj even went to Yahoo, much left dropped a bomb tweet. Those prime spots in the press box don’t come open often, though.

        It’s much easier to show folks around, that’s just the city my baby. Never know what you might learn. Even a rook to the room can throw up the Gem of Media Day and get a very personal, authentic answer from Garrett Temple. A few weeks later we both are sitting a few feet away from Steve Kerr, learning the ropes on how different PR teams run sessions one mic pass at a time. The shared successes of the community extends to Rel and the Pels 12 leaders getting their own affiliated podcasts, not to mention the feature spots on the local news channels.

        So, Nick. A point. All of the local writers and reporters know that Ingram is happy here. So does the guy who sells BI the durags on Canal St. The front office knows they’d have to face down some furious fans if they tinkered with this Pelicans squad too much in the next few seasons. Willie Green might lead a locker room mutiny if Griff even considers a B.I. trade.

        This city does not mind slowing down to enjoy the blessings whenever they come. Soak it all in while you can as long as you can. The storms are surely coming. Just don’t know when. Not sure if the alert from Zion Williamson was aired but just a reminder to heed The Warning: Beware of which weather forecaster you’re listening to. They aren’t all sitting in the same studio.

        To address some concerns. The Smoothie King Center is not the worst arena in the NBA. The stadium and revenue are not the issues, sorry not sorry Kendrick Perkins. Some say those choppy waters will come with the luxury tax bills come due. I doubt it. Will Gayle Benson pay a luxury tax as high as the Golden State Warriors? Never. The same can be said for 28 other ownership groups. The bottom ten, going by Forbes valuations, couldn’t afford it if they wanted to.

        Benson ain’t bottom-10 NBA owner broke, she has billions to the Buss Family millions, but not too many people are Warriors rich either. At some point it becomes cheaper in the longer term to buy a team or expansion franchise, just ask Seattle and Oklahoma City about the sale and Harden trade. Extremely large luxury taxes bills are only justified if there is a championship at the end. That’s a hell of a bet. I’ll play Powerball and the free pools on the gambling apps. The $2 ticket is in my price range.

        The media landscape around Crescent City sports is shifting like the coastal marshlands. The Saints have a full scrum covering the team. Pick the folks you like and roll with them like a Mardi Gras float. Don’t troll the ones you don’t. It’s a bad look. As for the Pelicans. Christian Clark, Will Guillory, Andrew Lopez, Oleh Kosel, Shamit Dua, the Aforementioned Rook Mr. Reed. Myself. No one asks more questions or spends more time around the team, especially the ‘Big 3’ who travel to all away games. If you’re wondering why a question didn’t get asked during the media session broadcast, hop in the mentions or blast it out in the Spaces.

        Someone will likely provide an answer, perhaps even Antonio Daniels. Podcasting personalities like the folks running In the Kneaux are the next addition to the roster. New Media outlets are getting access. Lee Anderson went to the Jordy Culotta Show to give some Zion Williamson updates “Straight From the Horses Mouth.” Now we got Ron traveling over for some games, sitting next to the Boot Krewe team. The Pels12 and fans with the energy to keep their shows going have friends in the building too. Stewards see a lot when the bowl is closed. (Pro tip: Young journos should learn to make friends with the staff. If nothing else, you get more on the media meal plate.)

        The Smoothie King Center faithful also watch more Pelicans film than some of the other teams in the division. We sometimes get to sit with the scouts and it makes for great press box chatter. But the fans are watching with a different level of investment. It is obvious and there is something that can be learned from it. The fans are turning the game from last night back on to break down how Naji can help Zion on the defensive end as a way of relaxing and winding down from work.*

        Yes, some have gone to that level of defending Z in a debate. Ya’ll get wild at the Mid-City Yacht Club. Some get Eye Of The Tiger fiesty on podcasts and always seem to turn up in Chris Connor’s Spaces. Love it. Getting in those feelings is ok. It’s safe in here, mostly. Don’t bring up The Legend of Luke Babbitt though, it crumbles the convo like old expired Tate’s. IYKYK.

        Do strap in for a wild ride through the rest of the year and the end of your favorite team’s season. Find a few new people to listen to along the way. The excitement around Tulane, the Saints, the Pelicans, and LSU will help bring the community back together it a way that only sports in NOLA can. Take some time to support the undefeated Delgado Dolphins men’s hoops team with national championship aspirations or head down to see Loyola University, the defending NAIA Champs.

        You never know who you might run into. No matter what city, the best way to be In The Kneaux, is to be in the building. In between, we can argue about all-time great teams, top 10s, or whether NASCAR is as much of a sport as PickleBall…

*(For those wondering: When I relax, I am the anti-Brandon Ingram. I turn off most basketball and head to soccer. Work is still work after so many hours and the World Cup is just around the corner. Fuck Qatar’s Cup and FIFA.)

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