The Atlanta Hawks took advantage of the New Orleans Pelicans' desire to trade up in the 2025 NBA Draft by getting their unprotected first-rounder in 2026. The deal was finalized by the Hawks taking Kingston Flemings with the eighth overall pick on Tuesday night. Atlanta ended up with two first-round picks and the highest overall selection because the Pels were determined to get Queen.
The 6’9 big man showed flashes as a rookie, but doesn’t look like a star. He averaged 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.9 blocks in 25.0 minutes per game. Queen shot 47.3 percent from the field and 26.1 percent on his 3-point attempts. New Orleans had a negative-8.1 net rating with the rookie on the floor. It was a hefty price to pay, especially if Queen doesn’t turn into a star.
Flemings profiles as a starter with star potential. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie rated him as a higher-tier draft prospect (subscription required) than he had Queen. Atlanta also got Asa Newell in this trade, which pushes this deal further in the Hawks' favor.
Hawks absolutely fleeced Pelicans in Derik Queen trade as deal is finalized
Desperation is always a problem in the NBA. The Pelicans were determined to trade up to draft Queen and were willing to give up an unprotected first-round pick to make it happen. New Orleans clearly thought they’d be back in the playoffs, but it was a disastrous season.
This trade was a massive win for Atlanta and only got better after the lottery. Now, the Hawks have Flemings as a building block next to Jalen Johnson.
Here is a look at the full details of this trade.
Hawks received: Kingston Flemings and Asa Newell
Pelicans got: Derik Queen
Atlanta has quickly transitioned under Onsi Saleh. Trading Trae Young looks like a genius move. They have revamped the team around Jalen Johnson and were the only franchise to win multiple playoff games against the eventual champion Knicks.
It was shrewd moves like this that helped Atlanta brighten their future. This draft pick is another piece of their core moving forward. He joins Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The Hawks brought back CJ McCollum and plan to be back in the playoffs. Expect them to find minutes for Flemings as they keep building around their young core.
The Pelicans need Queen to transform into an All-Star big man to save any hope of claiming this was a positive trade for them. New Orleans can’t play Zion Williamson and the rookie together, so they have questions to sort out.
Saleh has been outstanding since taking over as the Hawks' lead decision-maker, and Joe Dumars has been a nightmare since getting the Pelicans job. The Hall of Famer got fleeced in this trade, traded McCollum for Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole, and signed Kevon Looney. None of those moves worked, and the Pels are still paying the price.
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Kingston Flemings with the unprotected first-round draft pick they received in the Derik Queen trade. This deal is now finalized. The Pelicans moved up from 23 to 13 to draft Queen, but it cost them the eighth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Credit to Saleh for being bold and getting the Hawks a building block out of this trade. That is what the best GMs do.
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