Pelicans first-round pick Derik Queen will miss at least three months in a tough start to his NBA career.
The 13th overall pick in this summer’s draft was injured in a summer league game against the Trail Blazers earlier in the week, and he was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left wrist before undergoing surgery Friday.
The team said Queen will be re-evaluated after 12 weeks, but the injury will guarantee that he will miss at least the beginning of training camp.
Queen, seemingly in response to the injury, wrote four crying emojis on X on Friday.
The Pelicans traded up in the draft to take Queen after moving an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to the Hawks.
As New Orleans already rosters Zion Williamson, some were left puzzled by the selection, including Ringer founder Bill Simmons, who said after the draft that the pick left him speechless and blacked out.
Queen, the 6-foot-10 center out of Maryland, had a drawn-out recruitment process and ultimately chose Maryland as his college basketball home.
He had a strong season with the Terps, as he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year while averaging 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Queen had his shining moment in March Madness as well when he hit a buzzer-beater in the Sweet 16 against Colorado State, helping Maryland advance.
As for his early start in the pro ranks, Queen averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game in three appearances in the summer league before the injury.
