Joe D is a good dude. Family friend actually. However, trading an unprotected first rounder for Queen? Yeah..........not so sure on that one.
Fears & the NBA Draft Projections
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That move has resulted in New Orleans being selected as the Draft's "biggest loser". My guess as to their management's thinking is that even if the Pelicans aren't that good next season, they should at least be competitive. That would put the pick somewhere in the 10-14 range UNLESS they win the lottery. But are the Pelicans going to be highly competitive? D Murray will start (and maybe finish) the year on the injured list, and you can never count on Williamson since he's always in and out of the lineup. Any way you look at it, they made a HUGE gamble with that trade.
No one is questioning the Fears pick, except to say it could be some time before he really develops (duh). Now he has added pressure to immediately produce because of that senseless "unprotected" trade.
TEvans4Three
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From The Athletic:
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears | 6-3 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
Vecenie’s ranking: 18
I’m going to be lower on Fears than probably anybody in the public sphere, although his stock is much more split among NBA decision-makers than the public would lead you to believe. That’s because with small, on-ball-only players — and I believe that’s what he is — you either buy into them as potential All-Star lead guards or you don’t. If you don’t, you probably see them as more likely to be bench scorers, which diminishes their value drastically. Think about how narrow that line is for Collin Sexton, who had a more impressive freshman season at Alabama than Fears did at Oklahoma. Sexton has developed into a lights-out shooter and works hard on defense. But because he’s so small, he isn’t quite good enough as a passer and struggles to defend. He has never been part of a winning team as a starting guard.
With how I evaluate players and value the ability to dribble, pass, shoot and defend on top of having positional size, Fears ultimately doesn’t clear the line because of his shooting struggles, finishing problems and significant defensive deficiencies. I don’t deny that Fears will likely be a productive NBA player at some point. There’s a solid chance he averages more than 17 points and five assists per game eventually. He’s that crafty and skilled as a ballhandler. It’s exceptionally difficult to stay in front of him.
However, I think we’re probably quite a long way from that occurring, given how young he is. More importantly, there is such a narrow path toward winning in the NBA with this type of player in a prominent role. His development essentially has to go perfectly from this point for him to be an All-Star; otherwise, he’s probably coming off the bench on a good team. Maybe he will continue to work his way into being that player and I’ll look stupid for having him here. It’s entirely possible. Ultimately, though, he is the kind of player I’m comfortable missing out on.
Hollinger’s analysis: I like Fears’ upside, ranking him fifth on my board and the best player available, and think this is a worthwhile pick for a Pelicans franchise that needs talent in the backcourt and faces a question mark in Dejounte Murray’s recovery from a torn Achilles. However, it does undoubtedly raise questions about the defense with a Fears-Jordan Poole combo in the backcourt and Zion Williamson up front.
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Jeremiah Fears | 6-3 guard | 18 years old | Oklahoma
Vecenie’s ranking: 18
I’m going to be lower on Fears than probably anybody in the public sphere, although his stock is much more split among NBA decision-makers than the public would lead you to believe. That’s because with small, on-ball-only players — and I believe that’s what he is — you either buy into them as potential All-Star lead guards or you don’t. If you don’t, you probably see them as more likely to be bench scorers, which diminishes their value drastically. Think about how narrow that line is for Collin Sexton, who had a more impressive freshman season at Alabama than Fears did at Oklahoma. Sexton has developed into a lights-out shooter and works hard on defense. But because he’s so small, he isn’t quite good enough as a passer and struggles to defend. He has never been part of a winning team as a starting guard.
With how I evaluate players and value the ability to dribble, pass, shoot and defend on top of having positional size, Fears ultimately doesn’t clear the line because of his shooting struggles, finishing problems and significant defensive deficiencies. I don’t deny that Fears will likely be a productive NBA player at some point. There’s a solid chance he averages more than 17 points and five assists per game eventually. He’s that crafty and skilled as a ballhandler. It’s exceptionally difficult to stay in front of him.
However, I think we’re probably quite a long way from that occurring, given how young he is. More importantly, there is such a narrow path toward winning in the NBA with this type of player in a prominent role. His development essentially has to go perfectly from this point for him to be an All-Star; otherwise, he’s probably coming off the bench on a good team. Maybe he will continue to work his way into being that player and I’ll look stupid for having him here. It’s entirely possible. Ultimately, though, he is the kind of player I’m comfortable missing out on.
Hollinger’s analysis: I like Fears’ upside, ranking him fifth on my board and the best player available, and think this is a worthwhile pick for a Pelicans franchise that needs talent in the backcourt and faces a question mark in Dejounte Murray’s recovery from a torn Achilles. However, it does undoubtedly raise questions about the defense with a Fears-Jordan Poole combo in the backcourt and Zion Williamson up front.
SoonerBounce13
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I'm not saying it was smart for the future of the franchise
But watching fears and queen will still be fun
BoulderSooner
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this is my issue with with Vecenie and a bunch of the "Draft guys" Fears is not a "small" guard ..
he was bigger at a younger age at the NBA combine then Drose and Westbrook .. (and faster then both for that matter)
unless they are planning to trade zion i am not sure queen fits ... I don't think he is a 5 and giving up an unprotected 1st in 26 to move up 10 spots is a fireable offense ..
BoulderSooner
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Fears first contract will be approximately .. 4 for 34 million
SoonerBounce13
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I don't think people are calling him small just because of his height. He weighs quite a bit less than RW and DRose. He looks small out there because of his build...and his baby face prob has something to do with it
BoulderSooner
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18 year olds tend to grow and gain weight ..
WichitaSooner
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The ESPN draft analyst just said on SVP that this was the weakest second round in many, many years, and it is due to NIL. He said at least 15 guys who were absolutely certain to be drafted chose to return to college because of NIL. Again, this is well known stuff that no one in the know even debates. And it shows one of the good things about NIL even though people complain about it all the time.
BoulderSooner
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Reid 42 in the ESPN 26 mock ..
www.espn.com
clearly just based on size and pedigree
Who rises to No. 1 in our 2026 NBA mock draft? Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Ament are all in the mix
There's considerable excitement around next year's draft class thanks to four players vying for the top spot.
clearly just based on size and pedigree
WichitaSooner
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Vlad Goldin. Hunter Dickinson. Grant Nelson. Another reminder that the NBA is really good. I always think back to our Michigan game thread and there were people saying there were several NBA players on the court that night, and I was roasted by some when I said Fears and Wolf were the only two likely to be drafted. Many of the guys listed above will get their chances to make a roster but it’s an uphill climb.
hoopsaustin
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Its immaterial however bc of the open free agency every. single. year.
I
I was at that game and thought there were three - Fears, Wolf, and the Michigan center. I was obviously wrong about the last one. There wasn't anyone else on that court that was an NBA-caliber player. Jalon Moore was the 4th best player in that game.
BoulderSooner
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i was touting Wolf as a first rounder .. .. and i thought Vlad would go somewhere in the second ..
They need to move Zion. IMHO, you can’t depend on him to be the anchor of the franchise. I know you won’t get a great deal for him, but this will be addition by subtraction. Believing all of that, it makes the trade all the more crazy. I like Queen and Fears; I don’t like the unprotected pick.
I was surprised about Sears. I think he can play. I know he’s not the tallest point guard, but he’s strong, can lead a team, and stick the open three. I still think he can make a team, but what do I know?
