These are three questions that the New Orleans Pelicans need answered by center/forward Derik Queen this season.
The New Orleans Pelicans were maligned for their move to trade up and select center Derik Queen. A divisive rookie season has people split one year later, but many around the city are very excited about the potential that he brings.
It doesn't take long to understand why a fan would be excited about Queen. He proved why he got the nickname Baby Jokic with his special court vision and passing abilities for his size. He was the first rookie last year with a triple-double and almost had a couple other.
As exciting as he was at times, there were a lot of questions about his long-term viability. The defensive ceiling is a big one, but it's hard to expect him to change that in one offseason. Here are some things that the team should work to find out this year:
Can he improve the efficiency?
This also partially has to do with work being done in the weight room in the offseason, in terms of finishing at the rim, but Queen's efficiency has to rise in order for the team to start him. He had a 19th percentile points-per-shot attempt last year among bigs, per CleaningTheGlass.
They could handle a lower field goal percentage if he started shooting more threes, but he was 26.1% from three on 1.1 attempts last year. The biggest issue was his 60% at the rim, which was in the 20th percentile. Back in December, Queen posted 15.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game on 52.6/29.4/75.4 shooting splits. The Pelicans would be ecstatic if he could do that again.
Is he a four or a five long-term?
Queen has weighed in on the conversation this offseason by saying that he's both, which is fair enough for his own view, but the Pelicans need to figure out where they want him to slot in long-term.
The most likely option, given his profile, is New Orleans moving him to the four, despite him spending the most time at center. If he and Yves Missi could perform together, that would be the best-case scenario for the future. As of now, though, Zion Williamson at the four makes it hard for Queen to go there full-time.
That's another decision that the team needs to make this year. The future of Williamson will have an impact on Queen's future as well. If they find a way to win the minutes with Williamson at the four and Queen at the five, that would be another great path forward.
