Photo: New Orleans Pelicans/X

Derik Queen is expected to miss a minimum of 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to address a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist – a significant injury that will sideline the promising young player for the foreseeable future.

Queen’s NBA journey began when the New Orleans Pelicans acquired his draft rights in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks on the night of the 2025 NBA Draft.

As part of that trade, the Pelicans sent Atlanta the 23rd overall pick along with the more favorable of their own or the Milwaukee Bucks’ unprotected 2026 first-round selections.

Before his injury, Queen showed flashes of potential during his brief stint in the NBA Summer League, where he played in three games for the Pelicans.

Over that span, he averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while logging an average of 27.1 minutes on the court – highlighting his versatility and promise as a developing frontcourt talent.

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