Even more so than most rookie classes, these recent New Orleans Pelicans draft selections are going to be watched very closely.
The first group of players drafted by new Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and general manager Troy Weaver was Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
Taking Fears with the No. 7 overall selection was a fair value and was received well. The decision to trade next year's first-round pick to acquire Queen was much-maligned, but not because of the players. Micah Peavy was also selected in the second round, with the 40th overall pick.
It was a big swing coming out of the gates for Dumars and Weaver. A strong first year from their rookies could go a long way in winning over fans that don't yet know how to feel.
During his big pre-training camp press conference, Dumars provided some insight on the early approach to these rookies and where they stand ahead of training camp.
One interesting note the new boss gave early on was that he is having the rookies work out heavily with specific veterans. Fears is with Jordan Poole, Peavy is with Saddiq Bey and Queen will be with Kevon Looney when he is back on the court.
"I can sit and talk to them all day long, but they need to see it on the court," said Dumars. "That's what we do with the young guys. We pair them with vets who really know how to work."
It's an interesting approach to getting younger guys ready to play. And by all accounts, these young players will get the chance to play early on, if they earn it. Dumars has preached depth all offseason long. The roles will be there for the taking.
The new PBO has especially put the ball in Fears' court for early impact with Dejounte Murray out.
"You will determine how your rookie year goes," said Dumars to his rookie guard. "I won't. The coach won't. You will. You will have every opportunity to establish yourself... You'll either show that you are ready for it or you are not."
Fears has responded to that challenge well as he has supposedly been working so hard that the team has had to send him home at times so he didn't wear himself out.
Queen has a tougher road, given that he is not going to be on the court for the start of training camp as he recovers from a wrist injury he suffered during Summer League.
The center has been itching at the chance to get on the court, though. His early emphasis has been on conditioning, intending to get him playing as soon as possible once he is healthy.
It's totally unclear just how much this rookie class will do this season, especially on a team that is sneakily very deep with talent, but they seem to off to as good of a start as the team could ask for given their respective situations.