Part 5/11:
The trade to acquire Queen was heavily criticized as one of the worst of the decade. The Pelicans sacrificed their future first-round pick — an unprotected lottery asset in a highly talented 2026 draft class — in a gamble that many saw as unnecessary. The move appeared shortsighted, especially given the inherent risks of relying on a rookie like Queen, who has shown great promise but remains unproven at the NBA level.
As expected, the 2026 draft headlined discussions due to its potential to feature future stars like AJ Deansa and Cameron Boozer. The Pelicans actively handed over what could be a valuable asset for uncertain short-term gains, seemingly disregarding the broader implications of losing such a trade chip.