Derik Queen’s Injury Puts Pelicans’ Bold Draft Move on Hold
The New Orleans Pelicans’ latest first-round pick, Derik Queen, has already hit a major setback before even stepping on the floor for a regular season game. The 13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist and is expected to be out for at least 12 weeks. That puts his re-evaluation timeline right around October, just before the NBA season tips off.
Queen, a standout one-and-done player from Maryland, was a major investment for the Pelicans. They traded up ten spots—sacrificing a valuable unprotected 2026 first-round pick—to grab the 6-foot-9 forward, hoping his versatility would anchor their frontcourt of the future. His Summer League performances showed flashes of that promise. In three games in Las Vegas, Queen averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while logging 27.1 minutes per contest. His best game, ironically, came right before the injury—17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks against Portland.
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But the injury bug, which haunted New Orleans last season, continues to linger. Queen joins a growing list of Pelicans currently rehabbing from surgeries, including Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, and Dejounte Murray. It’s yet another blow for a franchise that finished a miserable 21-61 last year and is desperately trying to rebuild momentum.
The front office, led by Joe Dumars, knew the risks involved with trading up for Queen, but believed in his long-term potential. “We identified him as a foundational piece,” Dumars said on draft night. Queen, for his part, welcomed the challenge and was eager to prove the team right. “It shows how much they wanted me and how much they believe in me,” he said.
Unfortunately, that belief will have to wait a bit longer to materialize. While the surgery was reportedly successful, the road back won’t be simple. Re-evaluation in 12 weeks doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be ready to play immediately. The injury could impact his conditioning, on-court rhythm, and the role he plays to start the season—assuming he’s cleared in time.
In the meantime, the Pelicans are left with a thin frontcourt rotation. Veterans like Kevon Looney and promising bigs like Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic will likely be asked to step up. But the hole Queen leaves—even as a rookie—is significant. His ability to operate from the perimeter, rebound, and facilitate is rare for a player his size, and his absence could limit New Orleans' options early in the season.
All eyes now shift to October, when Queen’s status will be re-evaluated. For a team hoping to turn the page, his development and return will be critical. The Pelicans took a swing to secure a future cornerstone—now, they’ll just have to wait and hope the wrist heals, and that the wait proves worth it.
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