Derik Queen’s Breakout Performance FORCES Pelicans to Reconsider Their Entire Zion Williamson Era
Rookie Derik Queen’s breakout performances have the New Orleans Pelicans reconsidering their entire franchise direction. After leading fourth-quarter comebacks in consecutive wins, the 20-year-old center is forcing difficult questions about Zion Williamson’s future in New Orleans.
Jake Madison and Dylan Sanders analyze Queen’s stunning statistical impact—plus-19 points per 100 possessions with elite defensive metrics—while dissecting Jordan Poole’s disastrous minus-19.4 on-off rating. The discussion examines whether the Pelicans should abandon their win-now timeline built around Williamson, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones to embrace a youth movement featuring Queen and fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears. Key topics include Queen’s defensive instincts that rival established stars, the failed CJ McCollum-for-Poole trade, and why the franchise’s competing timelines are creating roster construction chaos.
Discover why both hosts believe trading Zion Williamson has become significantly more realistic after just two games of Queen’s emergence.
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39 Comments
Hey, you make every excuse you can anytime something happened to trade matter what happened sad horrible show
Zion is 25. Not exactly elderly. The only reason to trade him is because of his injury histroy. We played two bad teams and using on off metrics to justify trading him is silly
Having to move on from Zion was always gonna be inevitable barring him playing like an MVP and staying healthy this year. Having Queen already in house and showing signs he can be a offensive centerpiece just make it easier to transition. That entire era is over, it's done. The new one has started with a wet fart, but at least it's started. Let's see what this team can be in a few years with a seasoned Fears and Queen.
Zion been in the NBA 7 years and still has no jump shot lol
Queen plays the 5. You're acting like he and Zion are fighting for the same minutes
New Orleans pelicans slow Zion leave them
Willie still needs to go, I liked to see Dumars a coach combination manager.
Over reaction Thursday. It was great to see the birds get another win. Also last night's game was very exciting. Billie Green all "cheesed up". Tha was some cool stuff to see…. But, at the end of the day… The firing of Willie Green is a MUST DO!!!!
Hey just trade Z and get it over with. If he plays good one week, he's generational, if he has a bad week, his game hasn't grown, if he gets hurt, trade him. This flip flopping is played out, so just trade him and end it!
Why not build around Zion for the first unit and Queen for the second and let them finish the game together since Queen defensive rebounding makes up for Zion’s last of size. Seems pretty simple.
I genuinely hope Zion hears this demands a trade and wears a Looney Toons t-shirt at the next game! "That's All Folks"
Zion a bust because of injuries and never developed because of it.no defense and a one trick pony going in like a crash dummy getting more injured.7 years and haven’t done nothing.as his athleticism continues to go downhill.his career will be over before 30
Always pushing some over the top narrative. Haven't been able to watch this show lately. Queen wasn't even that good last game. He looks okay. Nothing that you could make any kind of decision over. Hope he turns out great, along with Fears. So far they don't look like anything more than rookies that might be able to play in the league if they improve.
The ball movement is lacking with # 1 in the lineup.
In order to be somewhat effective, the ball has got to be in Zion's hands and everybody in the gym knows what he's going to do when it is. Never mind the Sports Center highlight plays he occasional creates, having the ball on his hands 20-25 feet away from the rim makes playing defense against the Pelicans easy…a real cakewalk.
The same people who complained about BI's iso-ball habits are blinded by Zion's supposed promise. But truth is, he's worse than BI ever was and is a turnover or blocked shot away on every possession from starting a fastbreak going the other way.
DEFENSE!!!! DEFENSE!!! DEFENSE!!!
Change the MF Guard !!!! Fears + Queen is the future and the present
Fire Jake
Queen's quiet confidence in interviews even before the draft told me he believes he'll "cook all these mf'rs" if given the chance.
Also props to Jake for relentlessly covering for WG for 4 straight years when it was obvious by season two he was trash.
Queen could be finals MVP and these transaction nerds still gon be mad about the trade 😂. F those picks tired of always waiting for next year. You got your 2026 draft pick in 2025. It’s done move forward.
LOVE THE SHIRT JAKE!!! Think Blue baby!!
That’s a really underrated point about how DQ responded to the injury.
The defense for queen is only a shocker to guys that don't watch ball and simply gaze at highlights and box scores.
Nice to hear some excitement about a professional rookie player, in New Orleans sports.
Maybe next year Dylan will have a guy or two to be excited about.
We beat the Mavs and Hornets WITHOUT Zion and Murray so stop with the excuses. #WeWon
Its amazing how two wins changed your mind about Willie Green….LMAO hilarious at this point.
What's Murray's timeline to return? What should we expect, from him once he is healthy?
I agree with trading Zion- after years of backing him- but more because of Fears. Watch what Fears does do a defense— it’s the exact same impact as Zion, but w a bit more versatility since he’s gonna add a reliable 3 soon. They’re automatic paint touches who collapse the paint, and take + make shots from all kind of crazy angles w/in 6’. The roster is built for Fears already (aside from Dejounte). Keep Murphy and Herb, they’re ideal next to him. Queen performing is gravy. But Fears has clearly shown enough already that he’s gonna be A Guy, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to take particularly long for him to get there. He’s the reason we turn the page.
Here’s what I think we should do now:
BKN: Zion (who wants to be there), Duncan Robinson? (For the $), 1 mid-first pick?
DET: MPJ, Hawkins
NOP: Tobias Harris (expiring contract), 2 picks (1 lottery, and another in the 20-40 range)
I agree w y’all— Queen trade was an overpay. Just take it for it what it is and move on. Congratulations to ATL, who cares, the pick is gone, we move on.
It is better for everyone to just Cut Zion Williamson. No one is going to take a trade for that salary.
FIRE WILLIE GREEN!! Pels about to go on another 6 game losing streak. 2 close wins but not a very good team at all!! Willie Green is not an NBA Head Coach!!!
Let me answer that for you. No, isn't doesn't mean the changing of the guard. It's them finally finding a co star to play with Zion. Imagine the queen and zion line b ups. Imagine when Zion comes out Queen comes in. Queen is not here to replace Zion, but to team up with him.
Derik "The Blizzard" Queen has a nice ring to it !!
Is there somewhere I could listen to positive optimistic Pelicans basketball? We 8 games in and talking about trading everyone. I’m tried hearing about draft picks and trades, we are in the midst of the season let’s see how it develops.
Imagine being a player and hearing this from your local media
idk jake. I feel your frustration, but there’s a lot of basketball left to play. go easy bro
Every dayer comment
They won despite willie green and not because of willie green
Fire WILLIE 2 GAMES PLEASE..ZION ON THE TRADE TABLE. LETS GET A DOMINANT CENTER LIKE THE JOKER. DUMARS IS BUILDING AROUND FEARS & QUEEN. I SEEN ENOUGH FROM ZION. ALWAYS HURT!!! EVEN AFTER HIS WEIGHT LOST. TIME TO MOVE ON . DUDE HAS ONE MOVE DUNKS , CANT SHOOT AND ONLY 6'6. ZION IS NO LEBRON, AT LEAST LEBRON CAN PULL UP FROM 3 AND HIT EM. ZION CANNOT. BEY SCORES MORE POINTS THEN ZION.
Let’s be real this team no where near better without Zion that’s 1… 2 Willie green can’t coach when Zion on the court the offense is not ran the same with all the off ball movement when Zion playing Willie lives off Zion iso ball that’s a coach thing not a Z thing cause Zion is a good passer.. Playing Z And Queen Together actually opens up more easy buckets for Z and everybody else because when Queen has the ball at the top of the key and they run actions with Zion Trey/poole in them with Queen all focus turns to Zion which means the defense becomes unbalanced
Hi Jake
Our bench bringing the energy but our starting five not being as productive has been the problem for some years now
Every dayer