Between the final pick of the 2025 NBA Draft last month and the final few games of NBA Summer League this week, we've seen a sample size of this year's rookies that, I'll freely admit, is far too small to draw any sweeping conclusions from.

On Friday, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that rookie center Derik Queen had suffered a wrist injury against the Portland Trail Blazers that resulted in a t

No.7 pick Jeremiah Fears and No. 13 pick Derik Queen both played major roles as for the Pelicans but No. 16 pick Yang Hansen and the Portland Trail Blazers emerged with a 93-86 victory.

As he has admired Derik Queen’s rebounding, passing and physical presence in two Summer League games, New Orleans Pelicans coach Corey Brewer already sees the early glimpses of a special p