On March 27, Derik Queen's journey in this year's NCAA Tournament came to an end when his Maryland team lost to Florida in a final score of 87-71. Despite the disappointing finish, Queen put up an impressive stat line, scoring 27 points on 8-for-17 shooting from the field, 1-for-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds and recorded two steals.
Regarded as a top prospect in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft class, Queen significantly raised his draft stock during March Madness. His game-winning shot against Colorado State on March 23, which secured Maryland's place in the Sweet 16, had everyone talking about the 6-foot-10, 250-pound big man.
Queen's selfless nature in getting his teammates involved, along with his impressive play in the low post, has earned him the nickname "Baby Jokic" among his close friends. This was highlighted in a recent Associated Press article that covered his standout performance.
While Queen has a unique skill set for a player of his size, early mock drafts and college basketball analysts seem to struggle with pinpointing his exact draft position. His strengths as a solid post player and his promising potential for playmaking may be overshadowed by some concerning limitations in his current game.
However, as the Raptors' tanking efforts yield mixed results with occasional wins in this final stretch of the regular season, it now seems likely that Toronto will land in the 7th or 8th pick range. Still, there’s hope that they could somehow secure a top-3 selection.
If the Raptors stay around the late top 10 in the draft, which is where the Maryland big man is frequently projected, could Toronto be securing a strong prospect by selecting Queen? Let’s examine the strengths that could help him succeed at the next level, as well as the weaknesses that could hinder his professional career if he doesn't make notable improvements in those areas.
How would Derik Queen impact the Toronto Raptors?
Queen's standout feature at the collegiate level has been his exceptional ability to score inside with a smooth shot. He has a sharp enough handle to penetrate defenses from the half court and displays impressive footwork for a player of his size and talent. But with those impressive qualities come a myriad of problems that Queen will need to fix if he wants to be a key contributer against stronger NBA competition.
For starters, he isn't the strongest interior defender, and his rebounding numbers are disappointing, especially given where Queen positions himself on the court. He can match up well with players of his stature and quickness, but if a bigger body were to attack him down low, the unfortunate reality is that Queen would be absolutely manhandled on that front.
In the case of the Raptors, a team that desperately needs as much defense as they can acquire, I don't know if adding a weak defensive big like Queen is the most optimal draft scenario, as it would put more of the burden on guys like Scottie Barnes to cover for him in the meantime.
Even worse for Toronto, selecting Queen wouldn't provide them with a gifted outside scorer on a nightly basis, as that aspect of his game is still very much a work in progress. To be fair, if the Raptors were to somehow choose Khaman Maluach instead, he isn't much of a sharpshooter either, but you get my point.
Given how determined Toronto is to win next year, how much time and patience will they have to give into a Queen-friendly offense when there are other players who also deserve the spotlight? If Queen isn't a significant contributor to the scoring, I don't see how he can provide much value to the Raptors.
Considering these questions, Queen's best fit at the NBA level may be as a tweener. He likely isn't suited for a full-time center role. However, his lateral quickness raises concerns about his ability to play as a forward, which makes his position with the Raptors even more uncertain.
Toronto already has Jonathan Mogbo, a player they are still trying to place in the right role. While Queen outshines Mogbo in scoring ability, his addition could place the team in a similar predicament.
Drafting a score-first big with limited defensive capabilities and rim-protecting skills doesn’t seem like a smart move for the Raptors, regardless of how highly the basketball community views Queen as a collegiate prospect. I’d prefer to see the team select someone who could blossom into a potential star for Toronto, like Jeremiah Fears, (maybe) Khaman Maluach, or even Tre Johnson, for that matter.
I’m not dismissing Queen’s chances of succeeding at the NBA level; many teams will be interested in him on draft night. However, I don't believe Toronto should be one of them.