The New Orleans Pelicans confronted severe criticism after deciding on Derik Queen with the thirteenth choose within the NBA Draft.
To amass that choose, the Pelicans despatched the twenty third choose and an unprotected 2016 first-round choose to the Atlanta Hawks. Contemplating the Pelicans is perhaps a lottery-level group once more, shedding that choose hurts.
Derik Queen is an efficient participant price buying and selling up for, however the circumstances aren’t within the Pelicans’ favor. Until they pull off the most effective 2025-26 common season doable, this is perhaps a horrible commerce.
New president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has caught nearly all 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 needs extra individuals to speak about him moderately than the misplaced first-round choose. He is able to show everybody incorrect 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 focus of the discourse apart from Dumars.
Nevertheless, 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 needs to show he was the fitting choose.
“Undoubtedly. I don’t suppose anybody in that class is ever going to be higher than me. I block all of the noise out. He’s bought a whole lot of religion in me. Most of these guys I beat on in highschool,” Queen stated in his introductory press convention.
“It don’t actually matter, however simply gotta proceed. The NBA is a complete totally different degree, so simply gotta proceed getting higher.
“Don’t get too big-headed, don’t get too low. Simply beat on them subsequent 12 months and make Joe seem like a genius.”
That’s the optimum mindset, as he shall be enjoying below a microscope. He needs to cement himself sufficient to show the critics incorrect and Dumars proper.
The group is making huge strikes within the 2025 offseason, as they traded CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole. On the identical time, Queen is just one of New Orleans’ three choices within the 2025 NBA Draft.
They chose Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma with the seventh total choose. He’s a lightning-quick level guard with great potential and was excellent in faculty as a high participant who led his group on a prolonged unbeaten run.
The final rookie was Micah Peavy, who was the fortieth total choose by the Washington Wizards. He’s a promising participant who’s a authentic 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 incorrect. Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III would be the stars, however this set of rookies is hungry for fulfillment.
