Shakeup: Pelicans Must EMBRACE Derik Queen & Jeremiah Fears as Franchise BUILDING Blocks
New Orleans Pelicans rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears shine despite another tough loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Is a youth-driven rebuild the future for the franchise? Joe Dumars may have to rethink his strategy as Queen notches a breakout 26-point performance and Fears energizes a sluggish offense down the stretch.
Jake Madison examines how the rookie duo’s fast development could reshape the Pelicans’ direction, breaking down third-quarter defensive issues—including Jose Alvarado’s struggles—and the impact of Kevon Looney’s ineffective minutes. With Head Coach Willie Green’s seat getting hotter and the team’s identity in flux, topics include lineup adjustments, the search for energized leadership, and a sobering look at the franchise’s morale as Zion Williamson remains sidelined. Can New Orleans build around its emerging stars and avoid a toxic spiral like the Memphis Grizzlies?
Join the Locked On Pelicans Insiders: https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonpelicans
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOPelicans?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
#NewOrleansPelicans #ZionWilliamson #NBA #pelicans
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
DoorDash
Next time someone goes off for 50, use promo code NBA50 the next day to get 50% off on DoorDash with DashPass — plus your shot at the Bag Drop.
DashPass members only. 50% off up to $10 the day after a 50-point game with promo code. Terms apply.
No Purchase Necessary. Ends April 13th. Open to U.S. residents 21 or older. Visit DoorDashInYourBag.com for full details.
DoorDash — In your bag all season long.
BILT
Turn your rent into rewards and start earning points around your neighborhood by going to https://joinbilt.com/lockedonnba.
DripDrop
Stock up now before the heat hits hard — and keep your body and mind performing at their best with DripDrop.
Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order.
Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code LOCKEDONNBA.
Wayfair
Don’t miss out on early Black Friday deals.
Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair’s Black Friday sale for up to 70% off.
Mint Mobile
Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at https://MintMobile.com/LOCKEDONNBA
Upfront payment of $45 required (equivalent to $15/mo). Limited-time new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speeds may slow above 35GB on Unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
Robinhood
You expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move.
All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.
Gametime
Today’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
Right now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting https://FanDuel.com to get started
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
31 Comments
You don't care about rotations while thinking that Willie doesn't make adjustments. The adjustment is the ROTATIONS!!!!
If this 27min isn't spent on talking about firing Willie Green then it's not worth watching! Bye!
What’s up with us and the 3rd quarter #fireWilliethesquid
Why was looney on the floor at all
Hi jake
Trade herb,zion and Poole
Is Willie fired yet?
Yet another shitty 3rd quarter. Have the Pels EVER won a 3Q during the Willie Green era? What is he doing during halftime?
I might have been wrong about DQ as a player. The kid looks good. Really good… having said that, the Zion experiment is over in New Orleans. It’s year 7.
Fire Willie. Rehab Zion’s trade value and trade him. Build around Fears and DQ. At this point I’m willing to give Dumars a chance considering how good the rookies look. But he has to make the obvious moves ASAP.
I hope home game tickets are on big discount lol
Why isn't Queen starting over Looney? Queen is the Dancing 🐻 Bear.
I think looney shined with tons of off ball movement. At this point he's not a lob threat or a spacer. I think you need the big to be one or the other at least when he's not a high usage guy
Everydayer!!
Rookie era. Flip the script
The rotations have been horrible, offensive and defensive schemes are horrendous, a change needs to happen
Every dayer
You keep saying you don’t care much about rotations but it’s a major factor to good coaching. You also said you didn’t think half time adjustments are as big a deal… 🤔
Out coached by an interim coach because of rotations and adjustments. Lets me real.
Memphis done this to themselves they fired a pretty good head coach and traded away key players
Maybe the Pelicans should hire a second half coach we probably win the championship
It's early in their careers, but both Queen and Fears have impressed me. They need to be the future. Build around them, Trey, Herb, and Yves. Get rid of Willie and Zion STAT!
Pelicans will have a terrible November. Season over. Queen will start, Zion comes back. They'll go on a streak in a weaker December schedule. Queen gets ROY. Book it.
I been saying to fire Willie green for 2 years now. Everybody said I was tripping and that we had injuries. 2 years later everyone wants him fired. Funny lol
It has been a long 7 to 10 days for our players to recover. How much longer is Zion going to be out?
This is an unwatchable squad vs. one that could be very watchable. When healthy, with a REAL coach, this is at least .500 team…with a Gaffords-type at the 5 position, maybe 6-7th seed in West 47-50 wins. Sadly, I see them as is as a 5-29 cellar dweller after 34 games, without a real coach and without Zion and Poole. At full strength 10-24 at best….change coaches now!!!!!!!…and get rid of 3-4 guys that are complete dead weight (including Missi) and you can get back to .500 after 50 games and make it a fun ride. No coaching change for the season = 25-57 as the absolute best they'll do. Worthy of a fan boycott at any time, and I'll be better off learning Esperanto than watching 57 continuous instant replays of loserville on my screen three nights per week.
Jeremiah is going to be a superstar, he has it all! And he's only 19, it's insane. Of course, he still needs to polish a few things, but the talent he has… Wow!! It's on another level.
The problem is the rotation that Willie Green is putting on the court they don’t look like they’re playing well enough together makes me think they’re not practicing enough to play well together this looks awful and unmanageable it’s just looking lazy I wonder what are the coaches doing all day other than watching the players taking shots are they designing plays that organize their team to play better together
Everyday you know
My problem is that you are talking about Queen but you leave out the lack of production from Trey and Jones
The nucleus should be DQ FEARS MURPHY HERB …..
Let’s face the facts Jose Alvarado played his worst game ever but that’s because Willie Green left him out to dry just a bad coaching performance that’s why people are calling for Willie to be fired he just doesn’t make changes when they are needed
Jake has earned my respect finally h😅sounds like he has a clue about basketball