With a rare blend of shot creation, 3-point shooting, and playmaking, Naz Reid is one of the more unique big men in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves' big man won Sixth Man of the Year in the 2023-24 season. While Reid's skill set is highly unique, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derik Queen shares some similarities with Naz. The Pelicans traded up to the 13th pick to draft Queen.
Much like Reid, Queen is a gifted shot creator with playmaking chops. Queen's 3-point shot isn't nearly as polished as Reid's; he notably shot just 20 percent from 3-point range during his lone season at Maryland. Still, Queen has flashed his upside as a shooter and is certainly comfortable shooting from beyond the arc.
Given their similar skill sets and frames, Reid was a popular comparison for Queen during the draft cycle. When Queen hits his stride in the NBA, it might look a lot like Reid.
The similarities between Reid and Queen
In college, Queen was used as an offensive hub. While this likely won't be Queen's role in the NBA at least to start, his shot creation abilities make him a perfect microwave scoring big man. Notably, Queen averaged 16.5 points and led a high-powered Maryland offense. Queen also posted a +16.5 on/off offensive difference, which ranked in the 98th percentile according to HoopExplorer.
With his size (6-foot-10, 247 pounds), Queen is a bruising interior scorer. However, Queen also pairs this with smooth handles and high-level court vision. His comfort level with the ball really stands out both as a shot creator and playmaker. While Queen was turnover-prone, he also averaged 1.9 assists and showed the ability to make good reads.
The modern NBA values versatility. Queen's versatility as a creator and playmaker will benefit him at the next level. This could lend Queen to a sixth man role like Reid, or could ultimately help him blossom into a true star.
Shooting could be a swing skill for Queen; he shot 20 percent from 3-point land on one attempt per game. However, this was also an area that Reid developed in as he shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range at LSU. He similarly shot 33 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie before eventually blossoming to become a deadly outside shooter. Queen could have a similar path as a shooter; he already looks comfortable shooting, which is a positive sign.
Overall, Queen's rare blend of size, shot creation, and playmaking, with the upside to develop as a shooter, makes him eerily similar to Reid. It will be interesting to see how impactful he will be as a rookie, but there's no denying Queen's upside and similarities to Reid.