It was too good to be true for the Hawks when the New Orleans Pelicans sent them a 2026 unprotected first-round pick to move up 10 spots in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Derik Queen. Atlanta happily moved from No. 13 to No. 23 for that price, considering the pick will be the more favorable between the Pelicans (3-22) and the Bucks (10-15).
Because of the pick that New Orleans gave up, the trade will never be a clear win for the Pelicans, no matter how well Queen does. Fans feel better about it now than they did in June, as Queen is averaging 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in 24.9 minutes across 25 games (13 starts).
Queen is also coming off the best performance of his young career, finishing with a triple-double in Monday's 135-132 loss to the Spurs, the first triple-double for a rookie center in NBA history. He had 33 points (11-of-15), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and four blocks in 33 minutes. It's the second time this season he's scored 30+ points.
There hasn't been a lot for fans to feel good about this season in New Orleans, but Queen and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears have been bright spots. If Queen continues on the path he's on, he could be a star in the NBA. He already looks like one of the best rookies in the league. The issue is that, no matter what happens, it will be hard to justify the trade from the Pelicans' perspective.
Pelicans will pay a steep price for Queen trade, no matter how good he is
If Atlanta keeps the pick (and doesn't use it in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo), the Hawks could walk away from the draft lottery in May with the No. 1 pick. Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, or Cam Boozer could haunt the Pelicans for years to come.
Even if the Hawks don't get the No. 1 pick, they could still walk away from June's draft with one of those three players. Atlanta can't lose in a stacked draft lottery class.
The only way that New Orleans can "win" the trade is by winning a championship with Queen. Hey, that could happen one day, but that day won't come anytime soon. Who is to say that whoever the Hawks draft with the pick won't help Atlanta win a title one day? Even if that does happen, the Pelicans could still feel okay with a championship of their own.
The odds of New Orleans winning a title aren't high. The Pelicans are unlucky enough to share a conference with the Thunder, who aren't hitting a wall anytime soon, and Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Joe Dumars can act like New Orleans is set up nicely for the future with Queen and Fears (and maybe the team will be), but he won't be able to ignore that pick. Unless whoever Atlanta gets turns out to be a complete bust (wishful thinking), the Pelicans won't be able to escape that trade.