Pelicans exercise options on former 1st-round picks Missi, Fears and Queen

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised a fourth-year option on third-year center Yves Missi, as well as third-year options on both of their 2025 first-round draft picks: guard Jeremiah Fears and forward Derik Queen.

The moves, announced Tuesday, were expected as Missi is the club’s projected starting center this season, while both Fears and Queen produced while receiving ample playing time as rookies in the team’s first season with Joe Dumars serving as executive vice president of basketball operations.

Missi, drafted 21st overall out of Baylor in the 2024, has appeared in 139 games with 81 starts, averaging 7.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game.

He has 19 career double-doubles.

Fears, drafted seventh overall out of Oklahoma in 2025, played in all 82 games games as a rookie with 49 starts.

Named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team, Fears scored in double-figures 59 times, including 17 games with 20 or more points. He finished the season with averages of 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 25.8 minutes per game.

Queen, drafted 13th overall out of Maryland in 2025, also was named NBA All-Rookie second team last season after averaging 11.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 81 games. He started 48 games and played about 25 minutes per game.

Queen recorded two triple doubles last season, the only rookie with more than one.

The Pelicans open the regular season Wednesday night at home against the Indiana Pacers.

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