With the NBA trade deadline looming and the out-of-sorts New Orleans Pelicans sitting in last place in the Western Conference, the typical script would call for a franchise-altering shakeup.
The comparisons come with an obvious caveat. Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is a two-time NBA MVP, a championship centerpiece, and one of the most distinctive offensive engines the league has ever seen.
If you’re digging for rookie upside in fantasy basketball as the calendar flips to 2026, two names deserve a closer look: New Orleans Pelicans forward Derik Queen and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward.
It's hard for everything to go right in the NBA, whether that's due to managerial decisions, bad luck with injuries, or other factors. In league history, there are some moments that stand out, moments that could have gone in a completely different direction and drastically changed the league.
The 21–18 Magic host the 9–31 New Orleans Pelicans tonight in Orlando. With Orlando having gone 13 straight games alternating between wins and losses, and having lost their last game against Philadelphia, the Magic are due for a victory by the pattern set before them.
Derik Queen is choosing optimism as the New Orleans Pelicans stare down a pivotal stretch of the 2025–26 NBA season. Speaking after an encouraging win on Friday, the Pelicans forward voiced strong belief in the group’s chemistry and its ability to flip the narrative over the final 42 games.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie center Derik Queen crossed Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama off his list of players he’s excited to face in his first NBA season.
The New Orleans Pelicans knew Derik Queen was a productive rebounder before the 2025 NBA Draft. What James Borrego did not expect was everything else the Maryland alum was bringing to the home of Mardi Gras.
For a second consecutive month, former Duke teammates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have been named the NBA’s Rookies of the Month for the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, the league announced today (Twitter link).
The New Orleans Pelicans are enduring another difficult season, sitting at a dismal 8-26 after a recent loss to the New York Knicks. For most teams in such dire straits, the news would be one of dysfunction, finger-pointing, and an inevitable rebuild.
New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen has emerged as one of the league’s most compelling rookie stories. After being drafted 13th overall and traded to the Pelicans on draft night, the 6'10" Maryland product has transformed from a promising prospect into a nightly double-double threat through sheer effort and an advanced "old-school" skill set.
Just last week, the New Orleans Pelicans had the worst record in the NBA. After racking up five straight wins, the Pelicans are now 8-22 and sit in 13th place in the Western Conference.
The New Orleans Pelicans are finally showing authentic signs of life despite their difficult 8–22 record. Zion Williamson and his teammates extended their current winning streak to five games on Monday night.
The 2025-26 season has not gone quite how the New Orleans Pelicans had envisioned. The never-ending injury saga surrounding star Zion Williamson has played
Derik Queen has understandably stolen all the headlines in New Orleans through the first two months of the season. He has become an instant fan favorite with his play style reminiscent of Nikola Jokic, showcasing impressive footwork, dishing dimes all over the floor, and beasting defenders off the dribble and in the post.
The Pelicans’ internal trade hierarchy appears to be shifting. According to Marc Stein of the Stein Line, New Orleans now views rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears as the most untouchable players on the roster.
When the New Orleans Pelicans traded up to draft Derik Queen, they were largely ridiculed around the NBA. The New Orleans Pelicans traded with the Atlanta Hawks for the 13th pick (Derik Queen), giving away the 23rd pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick. It was an almighty price to pay for what wasn’t a highly sought-after player.
The New Orleans Pelicans are 3-17 for the season for the second-worst record in the NBA. The teams has been much improved since Zion Williamson's return, but wins have been hard to come by.
The most exciting thing about the 2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans season so far has been the performances of Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The two talented rookies have been two of the brightest performers of their draft class, earning starting roles early in the season and showing a sky-high upside.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie center Derik Queen earned the nickname "Baby Jokic" during his college career at Maryland. He showed why on Wednesday night.
New Orleans needs a spark — and their 20-year-old rookie is ready to give them one. The New Orleans Pelicans are 2-8 and trending the wrong way in the West.
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans have become the league’s punchline a month into the season. They can change that narrative by starting Derik Queen.