When asked about the criticism the Pelicans are facing for trading up to select him, Derik Queen delivered a perfect response.

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.

"I'm going to say, I don't think nobody in that [2026] class is ever going to be better than me," Queen said Saturday during a press conference. "I block all the noise out. [Dumar