Pelicans' Willie Green provides training camp update on Derik Queen

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green said Friday that Derik Queen is attacking his rehab daily and progressing toward returning as a full participant in practice.

Queen underwent surgery on July 18 to address a torn ligament in his left wrist sustained in the NBA Summer League. He was initially given a 12-week timetable to be cleared, though team president Joe Dumars said this week there is no firm date set for his return to the court.

With training camp beginning on Wednesday, Queen has been limited on the court. He has been working on his conditioning and participating in some on-court activity.

“He is jumping in some of our drills,” Green said. “He can do some of that, a little bit of up and down, working with some of the coaches before practice, after practice. But we won’t rush him. When he is ready, we’ll get the heads up, and when that happens, he’ll be able to step in and have more contact.”

Queen was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season at Maryland, averaging 16.5 points, nine rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks. He was also named to the All-Big Ten first team, helping the Terrapins to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2016.

The 20-year-old logged three appearances with the Pelicans in summer league, averaging 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one block. He registered a double-double in each appearance, including a 17-point, 10-rebound effort against Portland on July 15.

Queen is eager to get back on the court and begin practicing with the team. The team is working diligently with him on his rehab plan and is hopeful that he can return as soon as possible.

“It is killing him (not being cleared to practice),” Green said. “I see it in his eyes, but he is doing everything he can from a rehabilitation standpoint: He is working. He is conditioning. When he is ready, we hope to get him back and on the floor to get him going.”

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Pelicans news: Willie Green offers training camp update on Derik Queen

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