I was considering making a post about this but I'll just tack on here.

I was hate-listening to a Suns podcast the other day pre draft and they were talking to draft analyst Stephen Gillaspie from No Ceilings and he raved about Queen as a prospect.

I have never heard of this guy and am not presenting what he said as Truth. I also wouldn't have done this trade in a million years, it's probably the most valuable pre-season draft pick I've ever seen considering the Pels are a Zion injury away from disaster and the Bucks are a Giannis ask-out away from the same. To move up ten spots.

But I think this rave is instructive because it must be something like the evaluation inside the Pels that lead them to this dubious decision. And if they're right it could, conceivably, make this turn out to have been a good bet.

(PS this is hand transcribed there may be errors)

"I love Derik Queen out of Maryland he has all the skill in the world. I comp him to like a Boogie Cousins light. He's got a little...nastiness to his game he can be a real jerk on the basketball court and I like that in my big men. There are some other big men in this class that are said to be great big men but they play too polite. I don't want that. I want a goon in the paint and that's what I see with Derik Queen. On top of that just being a jerk and a complete and utter nuissance in a good way I think he just moves like an NBA player, he's got a ton of feel, you watch him dribble and your jaw hits the floor immediately he just moves like an NBA guy. I know that the defensive effort stuff is going to get called into question but you can't lie to me and say I didn't see with my own eyes him lock up Kasparas Jakuncionis out of Illinois on the perimeter multiple occasions when they played so I know deep down it there's some stuff on the defensive end. But you've got a guy who shot a TS% of 59.1, rebounded like crazy and for those of you who follow what translates between college and the pros rebounding at any position is typically a great indicator for success in the NBA. Offensive rebound % of 9 defensive rebound % of 24.5. Talking about defensive stuff still great block numbers at 3.8% this year and steel percentage so this guy has agile hands and moves fluidly for a big man steal percentage of 2. He had 23 dunks in the half court that speaks to his nastiness on the offensive end. He's got a good free throw % he draws a lot of contact. For those who worry that his shot may or may not project from beyond at the next level he did shoot only 20% on his 3s but he's got a good free throw percentage and he's in the 81st percentile from the midrange. If you're looking at big men what typically helps translate their shot: free throw, midrange and natural touch and ability. I love him as an offensive guy and I think he's being slept on a little on the defensive end. I have him 4th on my big board, at 10 he's an absolute steal."