The Pelicans drew heat for trading up and grabbing Derik Queen in the first round. Queen himself since then has fired off this message.

New Orleans Pelicans first-round pick Derik Queen insisted he's going to make head of basketball operations Joe Dumars "look like a genius" for taking him in the 2025 NBA draft.

The Pelicans acquired Queen in a draft-night deal with the Atlanta Hawks, who received No. 23 pick Asa Newell and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder in return. Derik Queen’s draft night schedule: 1. Get drafted 2. Update @LinkedIn 😂 pic.twitter.com/I2nag3eck8