Rookie Derik Queen Emerges for Pelicans Amidst Williamson's Absence, Igniting Debate Over Rotation Role

New Orleans, LA – The New Orleans Pelicans secured their inaugural victory of the season, a 116-112 comeback win against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday evening, mere hours after the team confirmed star forward Zion Williamson would be sidelined for a minimum of one week due to a hamstring strain. Williamson’s absence, a significant blow following the team’s 0-6 start, inadvertently created an opportunity for rookie big man Derik Queen, whose performance has now prompted a reevaluation of his place within the Pelicans’ rotation.

Williamson, a cornerstone of the franchise, sustained the hamstring injury, an update that reverberated through the team just ahead of their seventh game of the season. The exact grade of the strain was not disclosed, but the projected recovery timeline of at least seven days ensures his absence for upcoming fixtures. Losing a player of Williamson’s unique skillset and impact, particularly during a challenging winless streak, typically presents a daunting prospect for any NBA franchise. His capacity to dominate in the paint, draw fouls, and create offensive opportunities is unparalleled on the Pelicans roster. However, the void left by his injury necessitated adjustments from Head Coach Willie Green, leading to increased minutes for players who had previously seen limited court time.

Among these beneficiaries was Derik Queen, the No. 13 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Prior to Tuesday’s contest, Queen’s playing time had inexplicably dwindled, raising questions about his integration into the team’s plans. His minutes had decreased progressively over the Pelicans’ preceding four games, culminating in a mere six minutes and 51 seconds of garbage time action during Sunday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This marginalization of a high-value rookie pick had been a point of contention among observers, especially given the team’s struggles.

Against the Hornets, Queen’s role, though still limited to 18 minutes, was significantly more impactful. He concluded the game with a stat line of 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, shooting an efficient 5-of-7 from the field. His contributions were particularly crucial during the Pelicans’ fourth-quarter surge, which saw them erase a deficit to claim victory. A pivotal moment occurred in the game’s waning seconds when, immediately following Jose Alvarado’s go-ahead three-pointer, Queen executed a crucial steal, widely regarded as one of the most significant plays of the night.

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Post-game, Alvarado offered insight into Queen’s character and development. "[I saw] trust in his work," Alvarado stated. "I told him you’re a rook, they’re gonna be on your ass — excuse my language. But just stay [true] to yourself, trust your work and that’s what he did. He stuck with it. He turned the ball over three times and guess what, I told him he’s gonna make a winning play. He got the winning steal." Alvarado’s comments underscore a locker room environment that appears supportive of Queen’s growth, despite his initial rotational challenges.

Queen, who played the entirety of the fourth quarter, exhibited a blend of rookie errors and flashes of significant potential. A notable "rookie moment" included an ambitious, long-range lob attempt from approximately 60 feet that resulted in a turnover. However, such instances were overshadowed by his overall positive impact on both ends of the court. Offensively, he demonstrated a reliable mid-range jumper and a soft touch around the rim, complementing these with several excellent passes that created scoring opportunities for teammates. Defensively, his four steals highlighted an active presence and an emerging ability to disrupt opponent schemes. While the Hornets, currently holding one of the league’s weaker records, do not represent elite competition, Queen’s individual performance offered tangible evidence of his capabilities.

The curious case of Queen’s initial benching became even more pronounced when considering the Pelicans’ existing frontcourt composition. The team’s depth in the paint had been a point of concern, evidenced by veteran DeAndre Jordan, who was unsigned at the season’s outset, finding himself in the starting lineup for the Pelicans just last week. This scenario suggested a lack of consistent, high-level production from the frontcourt, making the decision to largely sideline a lottery pick with Queen’s demonstrated versatility even more perplexing.

Adding another layer of complexity to Queen’s situation is the substantial investment the Pelicans made to acquire him in the draft. The series of transactions orchestrated by Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars to move up in the draft order was widely scrutinized at the time and continues to be a focal point of discussion regarding the team’s future assets.

The intricate trade sequence began with the Pelicans sending their 2026 first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the No. 23 pick in the 2025 draft. Subsequently, New Orleans then packaged that No. 23 pick (which was used by the Pacers to select Asa Newell) along with an unprotected 2026 first-round pick, sending both to the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 13 pick, which they ultimately used to draft Queen. This maneuvering involved sacrificing two future first-round selections, with one being unprotected, to move up ten spots in a single draft.

Reports from the time of the draft highlighted the unusual nature of the trade. There were rumors, disseminated by outlets such as InTheNO.substack.com, suggesting that the Hawks’ front office was so taken aback by the favorable terms of the deal that they reportedly contacted Dumars multiple times to re-confirm that the 2026 pick indeed carried no protections. This anecdote underscores the perceived lopsidedness of the transaction from the perspective of external observers and even within the league.

The long-term implications of these trades are significant. As of the current standings, the Pelicans hold the second-worst record in the league, while the Pacers are not far behind with the fourth-worst record. This positioning implies a high probability that both the Pelicans’ original 2026 first-round pick (now owned by Indiana) and the additional unprotected 2026 first-round pick (now with Atlanta) could land in the top-10 of a draft class already being heralded for its potential wealth of talent at the top. The possibility that Dumars could have effectively traded away two highly valuable, potentially top-10 selections in the 2026 draft for a single player, Derik Queen, places an immense burden of expectation on the 20-year-old rookie.

The circumstances of Queen’s arrival in New Orleans, coupled with the team’s initial struggles, have undoubtedly created an unfair amount of pressure on the young player. However, his recent performance against the Hornets provides a compelling argument for his continued inclusion in the rotation. Even upon Williamson’s anticipated return, the Pelicans now face a strategic decision regarding Queen’s playing time. Given the team’s current record and the substantial assets invested in his acquisition, a sustained opportunity for Queen to prove himself appears not just warranted, but strategically imperative. At this juncture of their season, with a 1-6 record, the question for the Pelicans is not what they stand to lose by playing Queen more, but rather what they might gain from fully exploring the potential of a player for whom they paid such a steep price. The coming weeks will determine if Queen can solidify his spot and justify the Pelicans’ significant draft-day gamble.