Before the season has even kicked off, the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves dealing with the loss of an important rookie player due to injury.
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During a Summer League game on Tuesday, where the New Orleans Pelicans were defeated 93-87 by the Portland Trail Blazers, rookie center Derik Queen sustained a severe injury. He tore his scapholunate ligament in his left wrist, an injury confirmed by the team in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
20-year-old Queen is now sidelined for a minimum of 12 weeks and will undergo reevaluation after that period. This timeline suggests that his return could coincide with the beginning of the regular season in mid-October, assuming no complications arise.
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Queen was initially selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 13th pick but was traded to the Pelicans in a strategic move involving a first-round pick for 2026. This trade and his high draft position have brought him under greater scrutiny compared to other mid-round picks.
Following an impressive single season at Maryland, where he earned a spot on the All-Big Ten team and famously made a game-winning buzzer-beater against Colorado State in the NCAA tournament, Queen has been a notable player. He was averaging 14 points per game over three Summer League games prior to his injury.
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