Derik Queen - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Queen has a unique skill set for the center position. He is a skilled passer and a fluid scorer inside. He will need to improve the jumper at the next level, but the Maryland star would be a fun fit in Chicago and a potential replacement for Nikola Vučević.

Queen set the Maryland freshman scoring record (594 points) after registering 12 20-point games and 15 double-doubles. He is a tremendous competitor and showed throughout the year his ability to affect games on the defensive end, with his activity, instincts and 7-foot wingspan. He struggled a bit in the 3-point shooting drills at the combine and will need to improve to show teams he can space the floor. However, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year still brings a lot to the court that should intrigue teams in this range.

Wizards general manager Will Dawkins comes from the Oklahoma City school of getting guys who can dribble, pass and shoot as well as make decisions. Queen has many of those skills and averaged nearly 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists as a freshman at Maryland. He's been exceptionally productive at every stage of his career, and he has real offensive talent that should lead to him putting up real numbers in the NBA.

Queen is also from the DMV area and is the kind of personality that this team could use as it looks to take the next step forward. I also love the fit of Queen next to Alex Sarr, as Sarr's struggles to rebound would be helped immensely by Queen's positional play on the interior, while still allowing the team to play with some fun five-out concepts. Sarr's ability to protect the rim from the weak side would also help Queen's play on the interior defensively, too. This is a fun match.

Pro Comparison: Alperen Sengun

Scouts who thought highly of Derik Queen before the NCAA tournament should only feel more confident after Maryland's Sweet 16 exit. His three three-point makes and 27-point game against No. 1 seed Florida could have only helped turn some of the skeptics.

Queen's skill level, scoring versatility and passing IQ have been strong enough indicators of offensive success that certain teams will be willing to look past his defensive limitations.

Team Fit: Queen is a unique prospect who could really impact the game with a seldom seen blend of size, scoring, vision and feel. He'd give Atlanta another needed half-court option the Hawks can go to, aside from Trae Young.

Scouting report: Queen is perhaps the most skilled big man in this class. He is a terrific target in pick-and-roll, can create his own shot facing the basket with a wide array of moves, and has intriguing passing ability.

Queen's conditioning, occasional apathy defensively and lack of shooting range are things NBA teams picking in this area (or earlier) will want to get a better handle on in the predraft process. Interviews, workouts and more research will determine whether he gets picked higher or lower, as there is no real consensus among scouts for how to view his unique profile long term. -- Givony

NBA intel and fit: Portland's rebuild is ahead of schedule, with the Blazers going 23-18 over their final 41 games as Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan showed significant promise, providing a strong core to build around. All that unexpected winning diminished the Blazers' lottery chances and has them staring at a third tier of prospects with plenty of talent but also obvious flaws.

Queen's lack of shooting might not be an ideal fit on paper for a Portland team that already struggled from the perimeter, but his talent might be too big to pass on, especially if Clingan can make a jump with his shooting like he showed flashes of in small doses as a rookie. -- Givony

Queen is a fascinating upside bet as a beefy big man with significant face-up scoring polish and developing playmaking chops. Queen is a load to deal with when he gets the ball on a spaced floor, attacking defenses with a combination of physicality and touch that's tough to contain. He's already very good at drawing fouls inside, and has shown he can finish through contact. He can create his own offense off the bounce without an assist, and he's good enough as a passer to kick out the ball when the double team comes. The issues with Queen's NBA projection comes when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. He struggles defensively whether he's playing the four or the five with limited length and explosiveness. He doesn't always play with a high motor defensively, which can be frustrating to watch. Queen also isn't a reliable floor spacer yet for his teammates in the halfcourt, making only four three-pointers all year. If Queen is allowed to play with the ball in his hands early in his career, there's a pathway to big offensive impact, but the fact that his role player skills are so limited is a concern.

Queen is a bit of an odd bird—a mostly ground-bound scoring big who can bully opponents but largely doesn't. His craft around the basket and consistent ability to get there—whether facing up from the foul line or picking his spots as a rolling screener—are nearly peerless in this class. His role on defense and iffy shooting loom over his upside, but Portland's roster is big and long enough to cover him on the former, while his passing and broad offensive skill set should find a nice playmaking synergy with their scoring guards.

You'll probably see Queen and Chicago linked a lot in the coming weeks. He's a skilled big man who would fill a need for the Bulls and help pieces in the frontcourt connect to Chicago's dynamic backcourt.

Queen is a burly big with guard-like handles who dazzles with spin moves and crafty finishes, like his game-winning leaning jumper to send Maryland to the Sweet 16. From early in his career with the Nets, he can make an impact with those interior skills. The question is how long, if ever, it'll take to translate his velvet touch to the perimeter. If he does that, he has an offensive star upside. But his interior scoring, playmaking chops and magnetic rebounding alone give him tantalizing potential. Those traits make him an intriguing fit for a team with a clean slate like the Nets.