Derik Queen News, Rumors, Updates - New Orleans Pelicans

Team option picked up The Pelicans exercised their third-year team option on Queen's contract Tuesday, Terry Kimble of SI.com reports.

Impact The No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is now officially under contract for the 2027-28 season. The big man averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 combined steals-plus-blocks across 25.0 minutes per tilt in 81 regular-season appearances (48 starts) in his rookie season. Queen is expected to compete for minutes with Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic in 2026-27.

20 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Grabs 11 rebounds in preseason win Queen totaled six points (1-9 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals across 19 minutes in Wednesday's 101-97 preseason win over Dallas.

Impact Queen struggled mightily from the field but was a force on the glass, hauling in a game-high 11 rebounds. The 21-year-old has grabbed at least eight rebounds in all three of his preseason appearances. With Zion Williamson and Yves Missi expected to occupy the starting frontcourt spots, health permitting, Queen will likely be relegated to the second unit. However, the Maryland product should still have a sizable role this year after averaging 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals across 81 regular-season games (48 starts) as a rookie in 2025-26.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Pelicans' preseason has proved Derik Queen doesn't fit their win-now timeline Derik Queen needs time to become a contributor to winning basketball, and playing him is not allowing the Pelicans to reach their ceiling.

OCTOBER 9 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Nears double-double against OKC Queen scored 10 points (3-6 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-7 FT) while adding nine rebounds, three steals and an assist in 17 minutes off the bench during Tuesday's preseason win over the Thunder.

Impact The 21-year-old center showed flashes of his upside as a rookie in 2025-26 after being the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but Queen remains stuck on the second unit as long as Zion Williamson and Yves Missi remain healthy. More consistent minutes could still allow Queen to improve on the 11.7 points, 7.1 boards, 3.7 assists and 1.9 combined steals and blocks he averaged last season.

OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Derik Queen Could Be Weakest Link of Pelicans' Main Rotation This Season No one in the New Orleans Pelicans' main rotation has a wider range of outcomes this season than second-year forward/center Derik Queen. Tha...

OCTOBER 4 • SI.COM

What Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen Can Learn From Chris Paul and Anthony Davis in Year 2 Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen don't have to turn into former franchise cornerstones Chris Paul and Anthony Davis overnight. However, the se...

SEPTEMBER 13 • SI.COM

The Ideal Next Step for Derik Queen With Pelicans Is Clear Derik Queen's rookie season gave New Orleans Pelicans fans plenty of reasons to imagine what he could become. He made history against the Sa...

SEPTEMBER 11 • SI.COM

"Does it have to do with me being fat and slow?" – Derik Queen addresses the fanbase doubts surrounding his long-term fit in New Orleans Derik Queen’s hilarious reaction to the Pelicans’ fanbase concerns about his game.

SEPTEMBER 10 • BASKETBALLNETWORK.NET

Bennedict Mathurin's arrival may hinder the Pelicans' young core's development Bennedict Mathurin signing with the Pelicans may lessen the playing time and hurt the development of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.

SEPTEMBER 5 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Pelicans reach 2-year, $16 million deal with wing player Bennedict Mathurin, AP source says

The New Orleans Pelicans and high-scoring wing player Bennedict Mathurin have agreed on a two-year, $16 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal

AUGUST 26 • Associated Press

The Pelicans have one obvious year two decision to maximize Derik Queen's development Letting Derik Queen come off teh bench in year two would be best for both the Pelicans and his long-term development into a potential All-St...

AUGUST 26 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

One long-term development could completely change Derik Queen's future Derik Queen’s rookie season was very interesting. While he may not have shown that All-Star upside that a ton of fans were hoping he would,...

AUGUST 19 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Could see bigger role Queen impressed during his rookie campaign despite missing time early in the season due to a wrist injury, flashing the versatile offensive skill set that made him a lottery pick.

Impact He posted several standout performances, including the first 30-point triple-double by a rookie center in NBA history. Queen should compete for an even larger frontcourt role in 2026-27 as one of New Orleans' top young building blocks.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Bucks should use bad Derik Queen stat to chase Zion Williamson trade idea The Milwaukee Bucks should consider a trade for Zion Williamson this summer.

JULY 23 • BEHINDTHEBUCKPASS.COM

Pelicans' Summer League Decision on Derik Queen & Jeremiah Fears Is Baffling New Orleans Pelicans stellar rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are in Las Vegas for this year’s NBA Summer League. However, they are me...

JULY 11 • SI.COM

What to Watch For in the Pelicans' Summer League New Orleans Pelicans basketball is unofficially back with the start of Summer League play on Thursday. Fans looking for an early glimpse of...

JULY 9 • SI.COM

2026 Pelicans Summer League team shockingly leaves two key names off roster The Pelicans decided to leave Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen off their summer league roster, which feels like a wasted opportunity by the fr...

JULY 8 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

The Pelicans' lack of activity in free agency suggests a painful starting lineup experiment The Pelicans not signing a starting center suggests Joe Dumars plans to start Zion Williamson and Derik Queen in the frontcourt next season.

JULY 4 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Pelicans' Derik Queen gamble has a fresh spin to it following the 2026 NBA Draft The Pelicans' 2025 draft night deal for Derik Queen looks better following the Hawks' selection of Kingston Flemings 8th overall in the 2026...

JUNE 24 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Hawks absolutely fleeced Pelicans in Derik Queen trade after deal is finalized The Atlanta Hawks took advantage of Joe Dumars and the New Orleans Pelicans' desire to trade up to draft Derik Queen.

JUNE 24 • SOARINGDOWNSOUTH.COM

Latest Trey Murphy III rumor suggests a repeat of last year's draft-night mistake The Pelicans and Hawks have been discussing a swap centered around the No. 8 pick for Trey Murphy III, just under a year after the Derik Que...

JUNE 22 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Warriors may be next big winners from Pelicans' painful Derik Queen trade The New Orleans Pelicans' decision to trade their 2026 first-round pick to acquire Derik Queen at last year's draft was bemusing at the time...

JUNE 18 • BLUEMANHOOP.COM

At the NBA Finals, potential top pick AJ Dybantsa sees chance to have quick success like the Spurs

AJ Dybantsa is watching a young San Antonio Spurs team built by high draft picks in the NBA Finals and sees a similar chance to have quick success as a pro

JUNE 9 • Associated Press

The Pelicans must decide whether they are rebuilding or contending next season Acquiring a star player such as Jaylen Brown and trying to develop Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen at the same time won't work for the Pelica...

JUNE 8 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

Derik Queen's sophomore breakout may have just been unlocked by two NBA Finals veterans Derik Queen received valuable advice while attending the NBA finals as an NBA player correspondent.

JUNE 7 • PELICANDEBRIEF.COM

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Pelicans reach 2-year, $16 million deal with wing player Bennedict Mathurin, AP source says

At the NBA Finals, potential top pick AJ Dybantsa sees chance to have quick success like the Spurs