The 2025 NBA draft night was supposed to be a win for the New Orlando Pelicans. They had the seventh overall pick and used it to select Jeremiah Fears. Fear is a talented guard and could become a key presence in the Pelicans’ depth. But after that draft pick, the other teams seem displeased.
The Pelicans traded their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to move up to No. 13 and draft big man Derik Queen. The decision surprised the NBA world. League sources say even the Atlanta Hawks, who made the deal with the Pelicans, were stunned by the offer.
DERIK QUEEN MIC'D FOR THE BIG MOMENT 👀
— NBA (@NBA) June 28, 2025
Listen to him get drafted No. 13 to the @PelicansNBA 🔊 pic.twitter.com/kVnZWKv56V
”Man, they were killing them up there. They think they (the Pelicans) got F—in idiots in charge. It got so bad, I just felt sorry,” One agent said. ”Are they not aware of how good that pick is gonna be?.” “That is the worst draft trade I have seen in over a decade,” one Eastern Conference executive said. Hawks staff asked multiple times to confirm the pick was unprotected. They thought the pelicans had made a mistake.
The move raised doubts about who is in charge of the Pelicans’ basketball decisions. While Joe Dumars is head of basketball operations, Senior VP Troy Weaver calls most of the shots. Many of the teams’ recent additions, like Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey, and Derik Queen, are players Troy Weaver worked with or scouted before.
New Orlando Pelicans’ Front Office Is Facing Criticism Across The League
Concerns over the Pelicans’ front office are not new. According to agents and team executives, questions began at the Draft Combine in Chicago. There, the teams’ decision-making was openly mocked. Rival front offices consider the Pelicans an easy trade target, and this latest mistake added fuel to their opinion.
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The team now will depend on Zion Willamnson’s health and the success of two rookies. If it works as planned, they will fire back; otherwise, the front office will face harsh consequences that will affect the long term.
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