The New Orleans Pelicans, marred by injury all last season, received some good news Saturday.
Rookie forward Derik Queen has been cleared to resume full basketball activities, the team announced.
Queen was diagnosed with a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist after injuring it in a Summer League game in Las Vegas against the Portland Trail Blazers. He had surgery on July 18.
Queen, who played at the University of Maryland, was selected with the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft after the Pelicans traded up 10 spots from the No. 23 position to select him. Pelicans' head coach Willie Green said Queen was a full participant in Saturday's practice.
Queen brings versatility to the Pelicans lineup. He recorded a double-double in the three Summer League games he played. His best outing was the game he got injured when he scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He also had three assists and two blocked shots. He missed all four of the Pelicans’ preseason games.
The Pelicans open the season Wednesday when they play at the Memphis Grizzlies.
In other Pelicans news, the team announced that they have requested waivers on Christian Shumate. The forward who played at McNeese State averaged 4 points and 2.3 rebounds in the three preseason games he played. With the move, the Pelicans’ roster now stands at 18, with three players on two-way contracts.