At Least Derik Queen Is Really Good

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 22: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball over Derik Queen #22 of the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 22, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Many commentators, this one included – twice – chastised the New Orleans Pelicans for their draft day trade. At the 2025 NBA Draft, in order to move up a mere ten spots in the draft, they gave up a 2026 first-round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks, in addition to the 2025 first-rounder they had themselves acquired only days before the draft took place – and left it fully unprotected.

The Pelicans did this in order to be able to draft Deriq Queen, the big man out of Maryland, whom they clearly felt was not going to fall to #23 and who was worth the gambling on trading up to get. But even though nothing will justify leaving the 2026 pick entirely unprotected – would the Hawks really have baulked at the trade had the pick had, say, top eight protection? – the Pelicans are at least reassured that Queen is off to a strong start.

Queen’s beginning to his NBA career has been good enough to provide hope that the one saving grace from that overpayment of a trade might still be possible. He has established himself as a consistent contributor on both ends of the floor, posting scoring, efficiency, and defensive numbers that place him near the top of the current Rookie of the Year race.

Queen’s Strong Start

In his first 34 NBA games, Queen has averaged 13.3 points per contest, while playing 25.8 minutes per night. He has shot 49.9% from the field with a free-throw percentage of 83.2%, while also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game per game, numbers that reflect a immediate multi-faceted impact seldom seen in players drafted outside the lottery or acquired in secondary trades.

Three weeks ago, Queen posted the first triple-double among this year’s rookie glass, and the fact that he was able to do so speaks to how strong of a passing ability he has, especially for a de facto big. He posted 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 blocks in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, and while the Pelicans – the worst team in the Western Conference – lost anyway, Queen can only do so much.

With only the briefest of eye tests, Queen’s offensive talent level is immediately evident. While not the best athlete by NBA standards, he does have a strong handle with the ball, and is able to get to the rim, handle in transition and pass on the move like few others his size. Defensively, although Queen’s slow feet limit his ability to cover ground – and his second efforts could be better – his good hands, strong initial positioning and good contests allowed him to match up both in the paint and on others like himself on the perimeter

Pelicans’s New Hope

If Queen is truly to be the next Julius Randle – or, it is hoped, better than that – then further improvements need to be forthcoming. For starters, his face-up game will work best when paired with a high-volume, at least mid-efficiency three-point stroke, and right now, he does not have that (shooting 21.1% from the long line to date). For all his passing vision, Queen is also missing the pocket (or sometimes the player altogether) on his dishes too often, and if he is to offset his lack of verticality and lateral quickness on the defensive end, he needs to play a bit tougher, especially on the glass.

That said, for what started out as a #23 pick, the Hornets have found themselves an offensive hub. Hope that Zion Williamson will ever become as good as it was once assumed he would is starting to run out for all but the most ardent of Pelicans loyalists, yet even if he does not, Queen is the next man up, with some talents that cannot be taught.

The Pelicans’ record at player development is roughly as spotty as their record in trades, but they have someone in Queen they can sink their teeth into. The trade will never be justified in terms of its value, yet if this is Queen’s baseline, the urgency to get him at least makes some sense.

Mark Deeks I am continuously intrigued by the esoterica and minutiae of all the aspects of building a basketball team. I want to understand how to build the best basketball teams possible. No, I don’t know why, either. More about Mark Deeks