Pelicans’ rookie center Derik Queen had the best performance in his young career tonight against the Washington Wizards. He recorded his second triple-double of the season with 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists. For an interesting trade in the first round of the NBA Draft, Queen appears to be the right fit for a Pelicans team that’s riddled with young talent.
Pelicans’ Big 3 Shine!
Not only did Queen dominate, but NOLA’s other two stars also took the game over: Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Zion scored 31 points in an impressive 29 minutes and shot 12/14 from the floor, while TM3 dropped a game-high 35 points on 7/16 shooting from downtown. With all the youth on this team, maybe they can mold into an offensive juggernaut someday.
Tonight’s game was pure domination. The Pels demolished the Wizards 128-107, their second-largest win of the season. The W snaps their nine-game losing streak. What does this season mean for NOLA? It’s to assess their talent and decide where to go from there. With the NBA Trade Deadline approaching in the next few weeks, they would be sellers.
Queen’s Potential
I have been wildly impressed with Derik Queen. I was skeptical when they traded with the Atlanta Hawks to select him out of Maryland. He reminds me a a baby version of the modern-day big, someone like Nikola Jokic or Domantas Sabonis. A big who can handle the ball who is a great passer, Queen’s only “issue” is that he’s only 6’9.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s triple-double increases the lead Queen had against all the other rookies in the category (2). What do you think his ceiling is? Do you think he is a cornerstone piece for this franchise? Lastly, how long do you think it will take until the Pelicans are competitive in the NBA?
As always, thank you so much for checking out my thoughts and reaction to Derik Queen’s second triple-double of the season! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day and look forward to seeing you again soon.
