We’re only one day away from the 2025 NBA Draft, and the rumor mill is already buzzing. The first few picks of the night appear set in stone, but after that? It’s anyone’s guess. Among the names generating plenty of buzz, Derik Queen stands out. The freshman phenom was a monster during his only season at Maryland. Which team will take a chance on this high-upside big man?
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering several enticing NBA Draft props ahead of Wednesday night. Let’s take a closer look at which player prop bettors should target for Derik Queen.
Derik Queen to be a top 10 pick (+115)
In a draft with a well-defined early group of stars, the rest of the lottery is an enigma. That’s due in part to the teams that are set to pick in the five-to-ten range. Will losing clubs opt for a project player, or someone capable of helping them take a step towards contention? In that regard, Derik Queen offers an intriguing compromise. At just 20 years old, there’s plenty of room for the Maryland alum to grow. However, the center has the most polished offensive game of any big man in this draft class. Solid post moves combined with a terrific mid-range jump shot make Queen a nightmare to guard.
It’s not just scoring that made Queen a superstar for the Terps. The center possesses terrific ball-handling and passing skills for a player of his size. In addition, the 6’10” menace is more than capable on the glass. As a result, it’s no surprise he averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds over 36 games with Maryland. Queen’s fantastic 2024-25 campaign was capped off with a game-winning shot against Colorado in the NCAA Tournament.
Still, there’s a reason Queen will likely fall outside of the draft’s first handful of picks. The youngster wasn’t the most consistent defender at the collegiate level; it’s unlikely he’ll improve in that area as a pro. There have been flashes on that end of the floor, as he did average 1.1 blocks per game last season. Still, teams seeking a true rim-protector should probably look elsewhere. There’s also a ‘tweener’ angle to Queen; he plays similarly to a ball-dominant power forward such as Julius Randle. That’s not a bad thing, but it does mean that his future in the NBA might be as a four, rather than a stretch-five. Keeping that in mind, some front offices might view this pick as a potential headache for roster construction.
For all his flaws, Queen’s skillset might prove difficult to pass up. Several teams picking outside of the top five could use an offensive punch down low. That includes the following clubs:
- New Orleans Pelicans (pick #7)
- Brooklyn Nets (pick #8)
- Toronto Raptors (pick #9)
- Phoenix Suns (pick #10 via HOU)
That’s not to say each one of these squads will go big with their selection. Still, it’s not hard to see Queen finding a role on these rosters. New Orleans recently traded Kelly Olynyk as part of Tuesday’s Jordan Poole-CJ McCollum trade. The Nets lack center depth after starter Nic Claxton, an offensively-limited player. Toronto is in the same boat, with only Jakob Poeltl providing consistent rebounding at the 5. Finally, we have the Suns, who appear to be entering a rebuilding phase after trading Kevin Durant to Houston. At this point, Phoenix should simply take the best player available.
An offensively-minded game offers a stark contrast to the draft’s top big man, Duke’s Khaman Maluach. Regardless, it’s tough to believe that a) Queen won’t be the second center drafted, and b) there will be just one top ten center. At plus money, I’m willing to bet that someone falls in love with Maryland’s talented freshman.
