The 2025 NBA Draft is just a little over a month away and several prospects have already been put under the microscope. Among the hardest players to place has been Maryland center Derik Queen. On the one hand, he’s an awesome talent, especially at the offensive end. On the other hand, his physical tools leave something to be desired.
The University of Maryland’s Derik Queen said he’s interviewed with the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz here at the NBA Draft Combine. At the combine, NBA officials schedule meetings between prospects and teams.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 14, 2025
Had he been born a couple of decades ago, he would probably be a shoo-in as a top-10 pick. However, it’s far more important that he lands with the right team, especially in this era. That being said, Queen has already interviewed with five teams (h/t The Athletic reporter Josh Robbins): the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz.
Assessing 5 Teams Maryland’s Derik Queen Interviewed With
Orlando Magic
The highest pick that the Magic will have in the upcoming draft is 16th overall.
Queen could be off the board by then but if not, he’ll definitely be among the most talented players remaining. With that in mind, the Magic could take him just to adhere to the best player available approach to drafting. However, they’re one of the teams that doesn’t mind their centers getting in on the action offensively. Furthermore, seven-year veteran Mo Wagner has an $11 million team option for 2025-26 and is rehabbing a torn ACL.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks will have the 13th overall pick in the upcoming draft, courtesy of the Sacramento Kings, as well as the 22nd overall pick.
As their front office is in flux, there isn’t a firm idea of how the franchise views their roster. However, they have a clear need for center depth with Clint Capela likely to leave the team in free agency. Adding Queen would give them a more polished offensive presence than Onyeka Okongwu, who supplanted Capela as a starter midway through 2024-25.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets don’t have a pick in the upcoming draft. However, even if Queen wasn’t making a pointed comment when he was comparing his game to Nikola Jokic, they could still try to acquire a first-rounder via trade. With that being said, though Queen isn’t on Jokic’s level right now, he has spellbinding potential.
Though he’s not the most explosive center, he’s skilled enough to excel offensively, a la Jokic. Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün, who was dominant during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, is another player he compares favorably to. Funny enough, Sengun has been called a mini-Jokic.
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors will have the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
There’s still no guarantee that Queen would be on the clock, with the Washington Wizards —who have the sixth overall pick —being linked to the Maryland product. However, the Raptors have good reason to do their homework in the big man. They’re reportedly leaning towards extending Jakob Poeltl’s contract (he can opt out in 2026) but it takes two to tango. On top of that, their depth behind Poeltl is lacking, especially if they don’t re-sign Chris Boucher.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz will have the No. 5, No. 21, No. 43, and No. 53 picks in the impending draft.
Due to how invested they are in Walker Kessler, their interest in Queen is befuddling. It’s even more confusing when considering how well Kyle Filipowski played in 2024-25, especially after the All-Star Break. Yet, Utah tends to highlight the skillsets of their centers, and Queen is arguably the best offensive prospect at his position. Furthermore, the Jazz have explored trading Kessler in the past and could continue to do so.
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