The New Orleans Pelicans confronted severe criticism after deciding on Derik Queen with the thirteenth choose within the NBA Draft.
To accumulate that choose, the Pelicans despatched the twenty third choose and an unprotected 2016 first-round choose to the Atlanta Hawks. Contemplating the Pelicans is likely to be a lottery-level group once more, dropping that choose hurts.
Derik Queen is an effective participant price buying and selling up for, however the circumstances usually are not within the Pelicans’ favor. Except they pull off the perfect 2025-26 common season doable, this is likely to be a horrible commerce.
New president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has caught the vast majority of the flak. This contains Invoice Simmons ripping into the commerce, however Dumars himself has defended the choice.
He talked about how Queen was price it, and the way he has all of the strengths the New Orleans Pelicans want.
For Queen, he desires extra individuals to speak about him somewhat than the misplaced first-round choose. He is able to show everybody unsuitable and set up himself as one of many high gamers within the class.
Because the Pelicans face criticism, Queen is in the midst of the crossfire. Sadly, he’s the point of interest of the discourse in addition to Dumars.
Nonetheless, fortunately for Pelicans followers, Queen is utilizing it because the motivation to assist him throughout his profession. It’s pure for him to be extra defensive, as he desires to show he was the best choose.
“Positively. I don’t assume anybody in that class is ever going to be higher than me. I block all of the noise out. He’s received lots of religion in me. Most of these guys I beat on in highschool,” Queen mentioned in his introductory press convention.
“It don’t actually matter, however simply gotta proceed. The NBA is a complete totally different stage, so simply gotta proceed getting higher.
“Don’t get too big-headed, don’t get too low. Simply beat on them subsequent yr and make Joe appear like a genius.”
That’s the optimum mindset, as he will likely be enjoying below a microscope. He desires to cement himself sufficient to show the critics unsuitable and Dumars proper.
The group is making huge strikes within the 2025 offseason, as they traded CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole. On the similar time, Queen is just one of New Orleans’ three choices within the 2025 NBA Draft.
They chose Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma with the seventh general choose. He’s a lightning-quick level guard with super potential and was very good in school as a high participant who led his group on a prolonged unbeaten run.
The final rookie was Micah Peavy, who was the fortieth general choose by the Washington Wizards. He’s a promising participant who’s a professional two-way expertise. Peavy could possibly be a steal as a part of the McCollum and Poole commerce.
The Pelicans have low expectations, however the group is poised to show everybody unsuitable. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III would be the stars, however this set of rookies is hungry for achievement.
