Pelicans first-round pick Derik Queen underwent wrist surgery Friday and will be evaluated in 12 weeks, according to The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry.
The No. 13 overall pick in June’s draft tore the scapholunate ligament in his left wrist during a Summer League contest against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Queen had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes.
A 12-week timetable puts the rookie near the start of the 2025 NBA season, but he is not guaranteed to be ready to play. Queen was acquired from the Hawks on draft night for the No. 23 pick (Asa Newell) and a future unprotected first-round selection from either New Orleans or Milwaukee (whichever is a more favorable situation for Atlanta).
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Queen was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in his one collegiate season at Maryland, averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.
Here’s a look at Queen’s injury and recovery timeline.
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Derik Queen injury update
Queen suffered a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist during the Pelicans’ 93-87 win over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He will be evaluated by the team in 12 weeks and could miss the start of the season.
Queen was expected to be a contributor for the Pelicans in his rookie season, and if he does miss significant time, New Orleans’ much-maligned draft-day trade to acquire him will look even worse. The Hawks will have the higher of Pelicans and Bucks picks in 2026, and the former could be a high lottery pick, especially if the rookie center is out of the rotation.
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Derik Queen summer league stats
Queen was having a strong Summer League season before his injury, posting a double-double in each of the three games he played in. Here’s a look at his Summer League in 2025.
| Date | Opponent | PTS | REB | ASST | FG | FT |
| 7/10 | Timberwolves | 13 | 10 | 3 | 5-9 | 2-4 |
| 7/12 | Lakers | 12 | 13 | 1 | 4-12 | 4-6 |
| 7/16 | Trail Blazers | 17 | 10 | 3 | 5-11 | 7-8 |
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