New Orleans Pelicans Decide on Options of Four Young Players

The New Orleans Pelicans are locking up some of their young talent for another year as they exercised three options on Tuesday: Yves Missi, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.

As for Missi, it was a fourth-year option worth just under $5.6 million. For someone who is expected to be their starting center, that is a deal that they couldn't pass up. I would expect them to begin working on a longer-term extension as well, as they are big fans of his.

The 22-year-old is going to be a key piece in the system for Jamahl Mosley. He is expected to be a defensive cornerstone of this team; he showed the potential to be one of the league's best rim protectors last year.

Fears and Queen, entering their second seasons, had their third-year options picked up. Fears, the former No. 7 overall pick, will be making $8.27 million. Queen, the No. 13 pick, will be at $5.6 million. Both are great deals.

Fears is entering this year with a ton of hype after a great camp and preseason. The big question about him will be whether he begins the year as a starter or off the bench. The current expectation has been bench, but he has certainly earned reconsideration with his play.

Queen is certainly going to be on the bench to start the season, but that doesn't mean it'll be a disappointing campaign. He had a promising rookie year, though he did have his struggles. His path to more playing time with this coaching staff will be on the defensive end, which is widely considered to be his weakness.

While these three had their options picked up, AJ Johnson had his declined, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Johnson was acquired this offseason in a trade that sent Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy to the Memphis Grizzlies.

That deal only happened because they had to shed Hawkins' salary. For that reason, it would be a massive surprise to see the team turn around and take the option on Johnson. He is a young guard, but hasn't shown enough in the NBA to warrant taking on over $5 million. It would have been the same mistake they made with Hawkins.

He'll try to make as much of an impact as possible this year to attract suitors next offseason, but he has a way to go as he probably won't get many minutes to start.