The Atlanta Hawks traded back ten spots in the 2025 draft in exchange for the Pelicans' 2026 first-round draft pick, which ended up as the eighth overall selection after falling in Sunday's lottery. New Orleans was all-in on Derik Queen and foolishly gave up an unprotected first to jump up. The Pelicans struggled this season, which made the trade the eighth pick in 2026 and the 23rd overall selection in 2025 for the 13th overall selection last year.
Queen had an up-and-down rookie year in the Big Easy. The 6’9 big man has a unique skill set that didn’t always mesh next to Zion Williamson. 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 has all the potential, but the Hawks were calling this trade a win long before Sunday’s lottery.
Atlanta selected Asa Newell last year. He showed some potential as a rookie, but the 20-year-old needs time to develop. The prize for the Hawks is the eighth pick this year. The 2026 draft class is loaded, and Atlanta is all but guaranteed to get a difference-maker to add to their young core.
Hawks fleeced the Pelicans in the Derik Queen trade
This won’t be known as the Queen trade for long. Whoever Atlanta selects at eighth overall will take that mantle. It will just be like the Paul George trade from the Thunder to the Clippers has quickly become the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deal.
Everyone knew this trade was a mistake the moment it was announced. Queen has All-Star upside, but the Pelicans were not in a position to trade an unprotected first-round pick. New Orleans has a roster filled with question marks, which always left the potential for this selection to turn into a high lottery pick. That is exactly what happened, and the Pelicans will likely spend years regretting it.
Hawks fans should be ecstatic. They sadly lost the man behind the trade negotiations to the Bulls, but Atlanta transformed into a playoff team after trading Trae Young. There is no reason to discuss the final game. The Hawks have several young talents and will add more in this draft. They have the 23rd overall pick to pair with this lottery selection.
The future is bright in Atlanta because Onsi Saleh and the front office have done so well retooling their roster. This is not the first time the Hawks have fleeced New Orleans. It is how they got Dyson Daniels, too. That was a massive win, but this could be an all-time great deal. If the Hawks' selection in 2026 becomes a superstar, the trade will be mentioned right up there with the George for SGA swap and the Luka Doncic deal.
The Atlanta Hawks are building something special, and this trade allows them to add another crucial piece to their roster. They will officially have the eighth overall pick in 2026. The Hawks wisely fleeced the Pelicans and took advantage of New Orleans' desperation to add Derik Queen. The biggest benefit is still to come, so stay tuned.
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