Joe Dumars explains questionable draft picks in comments, Pelicans fans should see

This is interesting.
2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot
2025 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot | Harry How/GettyImages

In a recent interview with ANDSCAPE Joe Dumars spoke about all sorts of hot topics surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans. He touched on his close, growing bond with Zion Williamson, provided insight on why he traded for Jordan Poole, gave fans an update on Dejounte Murray's health, and more.

But one of the things I found most interesting was Dumars' comments about why the Pelicans drafted Jeremiah Fears at pick No. 7 and Derik Queen at pick No. 13. Dumars said.

"Both of them have potential to grow into great players. But I also wanted to build a team that didn’t put all the pressure on them that they have to come in and prove that they’re great in Day 1. I want them to be able to develop into great players without trying to force it from Day 1. It’s why you see the roster built the way we did."

This quote from Dumars makes it clear that, despite all the criticism from fans and media surrounding both selections, they see something special in both Fears and Queen. He understands they aren't the most polished or NBA-ready players, but also acknowledges that this played into drafting them. The Pelicans' current roster is constructed to give both rookies the time to develop, rather than throwing them to the wolves right away.

This strategy is brilliant

Out of all five positions, point guards and centers typically have the hardest time transitioning from college to the NBA. This makes Joe Dumars' decision not to draft to fill an immediate need extremely smart, as both Fears and Queen will have time to work out all their kinks before having to play heavy minutes.

During his five summer league appearances, Fears showed a ton of potential, posting averages of 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. While these averages are great, the 18-year-old struggled with turnovers and his shooting. Fears shot just 40% from the field and 18% from three-point range, and turned the ball over 5.0 times per game.

Typically, this type of efficiency and turnover rate is a cause for concern, but it isn't that big of a deal for the Pelicans, as Fears isn't expected to be a huge part of their rotation to start next season. Giving him the time to learn from veteran guards like Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole, while still working on his game.

The same thing goes for Queen, as his summer league was cut short due to an injury that'll sideline him until at least the preseason. However, during his three games, he averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Similar to Fears, he struggled with turnovers and efficiency, shooting just 43% from the field and committing 5.7 turnovers per game.

However, with Queen starting his season likely from the sidelines, he'll have plenty of time to soak everything in and learn from three-time NBA champion and 10-year pro Kevon Looney.

While neither Fears nor Queen is a finished product, it appears that this is all part of Joe Dumars' plan. This is a brilliant strategy by the Pelicans front office, as giving Fears and Queen time to experience the NBA before expecting results will only help their development.