Derik Queen enters his second year as the Pelicans' center after the team exercised his option
Derik Queen is New Orleans' starting-caliber big man at 21. He averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and is not on the injury report. Reports say the Pelicans have exercised his option, a sign the front office sees him as part of its core.
By the Pelicans Nightly Desk · updated 52 min ago01The story of the nightWhere Queen stands nowDerik Queen wears No.
Derik Queen wears No. 22 for the New Orleans Pelicans and plays center. He is 6-11 and 225 pounds. He is 21 years old and has 1 season of NBA experience after college at Maryland. The 2026-27 season is his second in the league, and he starts it healthy. He is not on the injury report, and he has no injury history to track. That matters for a young big man who will carry a heavy load. New Orleans needs his size every night, and it needs him on the floor for the long haul. A clean bill of health lets the coaching staff build his role without worrying about minutes limits. The focus now is on how much his game grows from his first year.
02What his rookie season looked likeQueen played 81 games last season and averaged 25.0 minutes.
Queen played 81 games last season and averaged 25.0 minutes. He put up 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He added 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks. The passing number stands out for a center. He made plays for others and did not just finish around the rim. He shot 47.3 percent from the field and 79.5 percent at the line. His true shooting was 54.6 percent, and his usage rate was 21.4 percent. Two numbers point to work still ahead. He averaged 2.3 turnovers, and his plus-minus was -3.8. Both are common for a rookie who handles the ball a lot. Cutting the turnovers would make his playmaking pay off more often.
03The jump shot is the next stepQueen shot 26.1 percent from three last season.
Queen shot 26.1 percent from three last season. That is the clearest weakness in his game. A center who passes as well as he does gets more space when defenders have to respect his shot. Right now they can sag off him and clog the lane. His 79.5 percent mark at the free-throw line is a good sign. It shows a touch that could carry over to longer shots with time. If the three-point number climbs, his whole game opens up. Drives get easier, passing lanes widen, and the Pelicans can play him with other bigs without cramping the floor. For now, his value comes from rebounding, passing and work near the basket. The shot is the swing skill for his second season.
04How he finished last seasonQueen closed last season with his best stretch.
Queen closed last season with his best stretch. Against Minnesota he scored 30 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in 41.1 minutes, though New Orleans lost. Against Boston he had 25 points and 11 rebounds in 39.3 minutes in another loss. Against Utah he posted 17 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 37.2 minutes, and the Pelicans won with him at +17.0. Earlier in that run he had 12 points and 7 assists against Portland. There were quiet nights too. He scored 2 points against Orlando and 8 against Sacramento. The pattern is clear. When his minutes went up, so did his production. Big minutes late in the year gave him a chance to show what a full workload looks like.
05October games and his contractQueen's October games have been about rebounding and team results.
Queen's October games have been about rebounding and team results. He had 10 points and 9 rebounds in 17.3 minutes against Oklahoma City, a win with him at +17.0. He grabbed 11 rebounds against Dallas in 18.6 minutes, another win. Against Washington he scored 2 points but had 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a win, finishing +13.0. The only loss came against Miami, where he had 5 points and 8 rebounds. Off the floor, a report headlined "Pelicans Exercise Options On Fears, Queen, Missi" says the team picked up his option. A second headline carried the Grizzlies' name with the same three players. Either way, the reports point to New Orleans keeping Queen as a building block.
Williams11.7 ppg
