The Pelicans' center rotation has been a topic of discussion among the fan base. After drafting Derik Queen and signing Kevon Looney, many felt Looney would likely start, with Missi and Queen sharing minutes off the bench. However, after the Pelicans' summer league opener, it's clear Missi will be much higher on the pecking order than Queen.
Missi, in a losing effort against the Wolves, scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 25 minutes of action. He did struggle with efficiency in this one, shooting 5-for-14 from the field and 3-for-9 from the free-throw line. However, he still had a much larger impact on the game than Queen did as the rookie big turned the ball over 7 times and was a disaster defensively. Although Missi struggled to finish plays, he was getting to all the right spots and making the right reads.
He already has the size and athleticism the Pelicans need from a rim-running big who's only 21 years old. They just need him to continue polishing his touch around the basket to become a more effective play finisher.
Queen looked like a long-term project who needs to put major work into his defense and conditioning as he looked far from NBA-ready. Missi didn’t need to have some dominant performance to pull ahead; all he had to do was stay solid, because Queen’s poor showing made the gap that obvious.
Surpassing Queen was easy but catching Looney isn't
Even after having a great rookie season, Missi still has some clear polishing to do if he plans on starting this season. Looney is a three-time NBA champion and one of the league's best role players. He's an elite rebounder and screen setter and is just an outright winner.
As much as Missi outplayed Queen, he still didn't have a great showing. Although Wolves rookie Joan Beringer did a great job defensively, missing eight shots at the basket is inexcusable, especially for someone who wants to be a starter this season. New Orleans wants to compete in the West; that's their goal, and it's starting to become clearer than ever that Looney will give them the best shot at contention.
Missi has added some muscle, which will only help him hold his own against other NBA bigs, but he still has work to do when it comes to the fundamentals. Don’t get me wrong: he’s a great athlete with solid size and an impressive motor. Now, the next step is refining his ability to finish plays if he hopes to challenge Kevon Looney for the starting role in the 2025–26 season.