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| Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images. |
Today, I look into the file of Pelicans center/power forward Derik Queen. After getting off to a slow start, at one point in the season, he looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate until his benching a few months before the end of the season, but looked strong again before the season ended.
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Position: Center/Power Forward
HT: 6-9 WT: 250
Credentials:
First-team All- Big 10 (2025)
Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025)
Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2025)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2026)
Strengths:
-Good ball handler
-Deceptive when moving with the ball
-Very good passer with good court vision
-Can score in multiple ways
-Has range on his jump shot
-Good rebounder
-Versatile player offensively who fills up a stat sheet
Weaknesses:
-Languid movement, especially on defense
-Looks uninterested and lackadaisical at times
-Show more hustle defensively
-Undersized center
Final Analysis:
For the most part, Derik had a promising rookie season. He's versatile as a scorer; he can score from the inside and outside, and attacking the basket. He handles the ball well for a big man, and he's a very good passer with timing and anticipation with good court vision.
He has a deceptive way of moving with the ball. In other words, when you look at him, he doesn't look like the type that will get by you, it looks easy to keep him in front of you, but if you blink, the next you know, he's going to the rim to score. He usually filled up the stat sheet across the board when given minutes.
He looks uninterested and lackadaisical at times, especially on the defensive end. There were times where he didn't hustle consistently, and looked as if he was just going through the motions. Although he will get a block or two occasionally--he averaged a shade under a block per game this season--he's not an intimidating shot blocker. From my understanding, this is what led to his benching later in the season.
Derik's play has drawn comparisons to Nikola Jokic; he has admitted that Nikola is one of the players that he patterns his game after. I can see why those comparisons would be made in terms of being a good ball handler and passer for his position, his versatility as a scorer, and his subtle way of moving with the ball, but he reminds me more of (his team mate) Zion Williamson with more range, but not as explosive.
Speaking of which, with he and Zion both being undersized, this can cause matchup problems on the defensive end. I think he would better off either as a power forward alongside a better center or as a center alongside a bigger (i.e. taller) power forward.
I also keep in mind that this was his rookie year, so there were going to be some growing pains, but overall, I think he has tons of upside. I definitely see All-NBA potential if he continues to develop and clean up a few things.
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