Derik Queen needs time to become a contributor to winning basketball, and playing him is not allowing the Pelicans to reach their ceiling.
Pelican Debrief writer Chris Lambert argues that Derik Queen does not fit the New Orleans Pelicans' win-now timeline following a 128-118 preseason loss to the Miami Heat. Lambert asserts that Queen's defensive limitations, lack of discipline, and five first-half turnovers in eight minutes demonstrate that the sophomore center is not yet ready to contribute to winning basketball.
Lambert contends that the front office's playoff ambitions clash with Queen's developmental needs. He suggests that backup big man Karlo Matkovic is better suited for key rotation minutes, advocating that Queen should drop to third on the center depth chart unless he adapts to a traditional role-player mindset.
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