The New Orleans Pelicans made waves during the 2025 NBA Draft by trading up to the No. 13 overall pick to select Derik Queen.
The deal with the Atlanta Hawks required giving up an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, a move that raised eyebrows across the league.
However, it made clear that the Pelicans were fully committed to adding the Maryland product.
Queen’s promising start took an unfortunate turn when he injured his wrist during a Summer League game.
It sidelined him for their final game, but an update brought news that was worse than anyone anticipated.
“New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, who was part of a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks, underwent wrist surgery Friday and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks,” The Athletic NBA wrote on X.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, who was part of a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks, underwent wrist surgery Friday and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) July 18, 2025
Queen wasted no time making an impression at Summer League, averaging 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in three games.
At 20 years old, Queen was already being regarded as one of the top big men in this rookie class.
The Pelicans were excited to watch his development alongside No. 7 overall pick Jeremiah Fears, making this setback particularly significant.
Missing his first NBA training camp creates an obvious challenge for Queen’s transition.
The silver lining remains that he is expected to return by October, giving him time to recover fully before the regular season gets going.
