NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans may be projecting a vision of the future when Summer League tips off Thursday in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
It\u2019ll easily be the most anticipated Summer league for Pelicans fans since Zion Williamson\u2019s rookie season in 2019. Typically, the games are usually a mundane run for younger players, but lead executive Joe Dumars has retooled the roster in New Orleans in favor of a youth movement. <\/p>\n
Dumars and company took Jeremiah Fears at No. 7, a move which could usher in the Pelicans\u2019 starting point guard of the future. They made a splash by trading their No. 23 pick for No. 13 to take the offensively skilled center Derik Queen. The Pelicans are hoping that gambling on Queen by giving up a potential high lottery pick in 2026 will pay off in the short term.<\/p>\n
“I just want to show that I’m one of the best that got drafted this year. It don’t matter that I went 13th… I just want to show I’m the best”<\/p>\n
— Derik Queen on the statement he wants to make at Summer League pic.twitter.com\/pg7QrnH4HP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) July 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “It reminds me of Baltimore a lot, like the people. Y’all’s food might be better. Y’all’s downtown is better too… Living situation and everything reminds me of home”<\/p>\n — Derik Queen on New Orleans pic.twitter.com\/mSGLwnQqxb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) July 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday (July 10) at 2:30 p.m. on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network, fans will get their first look at how the one-two punch of Fears and Queen might work together on the court. They\u2019ll also feature second-round pick and steadily rising prospect Micah Peavy. <\/p>\n “That I’m a dawg. That I just make winning plays. I want to guard the best player on the court. I want to show what I can do”<\/p>\n — Micah Peavy on the statement he wants to make at Summer League pic.twitter.com\/2KwxYVFlCM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) July 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “I have been working on my strength, getting a little bigger, not being pushed around. That’s the goal for the whole summer… The league is more physical each year. You have guys 250+, mostly centers. I’ve got to get up there”<\/p>\n — Yves Missi on gaining weight this summer pic.twitter.com\/t04f5R5BAM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) July 7, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Last year\u2019s Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Yves Missi will also get reps in Las Vegas, as well as two-way players Trey Alexander, Keion Brooks Jr., and undrafted 7-footer Hunter Dickinson out of Kansas. <\/p>\n The Pelicans will face the Timberwolves on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here<\/a> to report it. Please include the headline.<\/p>\n Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WVUE. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n