The Pelicans have started the Summer League 0- 2, suffering losses to the Timberwolves and Lakers. During these losses, it's very obvious that Yves Missi and Derik Queen will not be able to share the court to start the 2025-26 season. This has created yet another coaching/rotation struggle for Willie Green to have to work around.
Green was already set to have a tough time with rotations this season, as the team is extremely talented offensively but lacks two-way talent outside of Herb Jones. Green will have to become creative with his rotations and lineup combinations so that this group doesn't get exposed on the defensive end.
The combination of Missi and Queen was one many thought would work in small stints. Queen could be a playmaker out of the post while Missi sat in the dunker spot, but it hasn't been that easy. Both guys are used to being the only center on the court, so sharing the floor has been a tough adjustment. They both like to score in the same spots and often get in each other's way. Some may see it as just poor chemistry, as they've only played two games together, but I don't see it that way.
I honestly think that in the modern NBA, you can't have two no-shooting post-oriented bigs on the court at the same time. They just both clog the paint way too much, making it impossible for anyone else to get downhill and score at the basket. Spacing is more crucial than ever in the NBA, and neither of these can knock down the three-ball.
Even with how bad things are offensively, it gets even worse on the defensive side. Neither guy can guard on the perimeter, so one of them is always going to be a mismatch for an opposing offensive player. I can't even count the number of times this summer league Queen has been blown by on the perimeter.
Having these two share the court is just a walking red flag and something thats going to be a challenge to coach around for Green.
This could cost Willie Green his job
When looking at coaches on the hot seat, one of the first names that comes to mind is Green. It's been four years of injury-packed mediocre basketball, and while that's not his fault, someone has to have the finger pointed at them. If Green doesn't have this group playing competitive basketball by the 25-game mark, he could be fired.
New Orleans has been looking for versatility in its frontcourt alongside Zion Williamson for years. The combination of Missi and Queen sounds like a great idea, but it's actually just a duo that doesn't fit and clogs the Pelicans' frontcourt even more.
Having to coach around this terrible fit, paired with the fact that the Pelicans have built a pretty awful defensive core, Willie Green's rotations may be more complex than ever. And could jeopardize his job.