The New Orleans Pelicans were given a preview of some roster hopefuls on Thursday afternoon in their summer league opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Their start in Vegas was a loss but a close one, dropping the contest 98-91to the Wolves.
Thankfully, summer league wins and losses don't mean anything in the grand scheme of things for the Pelicans this season. New Orleans hopes to compete out West next season. That being said, the summer league is the perfect time to give overreactions, because as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Stud: Lester Quinones
No one stood out in this game more than Lester Quinones. He dropped a cool 20 points, dished out 2 dimes and grabbed 2 rebounds in his 20 minutes coming off the bench.
His shot-making was off the charts in this game, he was playing with discipline and poise. Despite having three turnovers, anytime he had the ball, he looked like he had full control. One play that stood out was when he caught Jesse Edwards on a pump fake and finished through contact, getting the and-one. His shooting ability continues to impress me; his stroke is remarkably smooth, and he shot 5 of 8 from three in this one.
Quinones is the most experienced player on the Pelicans' summer league squad, with three years of NBA experience, and it was obvious. Quinones is currently on a two-way contract with the Pelicans, and with them having two open roster spots, if he continues to play this well, he could earn himself a full NBA contract.
Dud: Derik Queen
Every concern everyone had about Derik Queen heading into this debut was proved true. He struggled everywhere despite his counting stats looking good with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists, those don't tell the whole story.
Queen appeared out of game shape, struggling to get up and down the floor and often failing to hustle back on defense. He was repeatedly targeted on that end, and offensively, he looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm. Unlike in his college days, dominating the paint proved far more difficult against NBA-level size and athleticism. His playmaking also left much to be desired, as he turned the ball over 7 times
If Queen is going to become an effective paint presence, he needs to add muscle to his frame and get a better handle on the ball. Overall, this debut from Queen was extremely underwhelming and validates all the concerns he faced after being drafted.
Stud: Micah Peavy
When Micah Peavy was drafted by the Pelicans at pick No. 40 in the 2025 draft, I felt as if New Orleans reached with the selection. But after this game, I couldn't be more wrong; he is everything the Pelicans bench has been missing. Peavy had 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and knocked down 1 of his two three-point attempts.
He was tough defensively, giving it his all every possession, and looks extremely NBA-ready. He was lengthy and disruptive, generating turnovers while playing with serious hustle.
He was a two-way stud tonight and is going to bring some severe defensive intensity off the Pelicans' bench this season.
Dud: Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears wasn't awful, but after this game, I'm just not sure how he'll fit with the Pelicans this season. He showed little to no playmaking ability, and although he came out of the gate hot, knocking down a deep three for his first bucket, the rest of the game was just mediocre.
Fears finished with 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, but had 7 turnovers and was 4 of 12 from the field. The turnovers, similar to Queen's, were very disappointing and demonstrated a lack of discipline and understanding of the game. I'm not as concerned about Fears as I am about Queen because the transition from college to the NBA is typically a struggle for guards.
However, because of his defensive struggles already, he can't afford to be sloppy with the ball, as in the NBA, just being able to score isn't going to get you anywhere.