Maryland Professional Athletes

Maryland's NBA alumni are making noise before a single regular-season game tips off, with Derik Queen commanding attention in New Orleans and Jalen Smith forcing Chicago's hand in a way nobody anticipated.

Queen: Already at Home in the Bayou

The Pelicans drafted Derik Queen to help end a postseason drought that stretches back to 2018, and the rookie big man is wasting no time establishing himself — on and off the court. Queen made headlines this week when he handed out dunk contest rankings after training camp, sizing up teammates that include Zion Williamson, Yves Missi, Trey Murphy III, and the surprisingly explosive Karlo Matkovic. It's exactly the kind of confident, personality-driven moment franchises hope for when they hand a high pick to a young frontcourt piece.

But Queen isn't just playing social director. He went to bat publicly for new head coach Jamahl Mosley, defending the first-year sideline boss's process as the Pelicans work through a reshuffled roster. Queen also revealed that Mosley has encouraged his players to "dream" about their roles within an unconventional rotation — a coaching style that appears to be landing well with the rookie. Whether Mosley's vision translates to wins is an open question, but having a key young piece locked in as a believer is a useful early data point.

The enthusiasm comes with caveats. Sports Illustrated flagged Queen as a potential weak link in the Pelicans' primary rotation, citing questions about his fit alongside Zion, his offensive efficiency, and his defensive readiness at the NBA level. Queen's preseason readiness was also listed as a top storyline heading into New Orleans' opener against the Thunder. The upside is real — so is the range of outcomes.

Smith: The Right Place, Right Time

In Chicago, Jalen Smith's training camp was supposed to end with him entrenched as a backup. Then Nic Claxton tweaked his hamstring.

Coach Tiago Splitter announced Claxton will miss at least two weeks, with a reevaluation scheduled before the Bulls' Oct. 21 opener. Smith stepped in during a preseason matchup against Phoenix and, by all accounts, made a strong enough case that his starting role is no longer a formality — it's a genuine conversation. As Heavy Sports put it, Smith's push has given the Bulls "a surprise problem," the kind where the backup performs well enough that a straightforward decision suddenly gets complicated.

Smith's performance comes at a delicate moment organizationally. A proposed trade idea also surfaced this week pairing him with Leonard Miller in a deal for Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis, underscoring that his value around the league is real even as he auditions for a bigger role in his own building. Whether the Bulls view him as a starter, a high-value trade chip, or both will become clearer once Claxton's timeline sharpens.

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Two Terrapins, two entirely different situations — but both demanding attention in a week when most of the NBA is still just trying to sort out its rotations. Queen is carving out a personality and a role in a city desperate for a winning identity. Smith is quietly making someone's preseason plan look very naive. Maryland's NBA footprint is small, but right now it's well-placed.

Two Maryland alumni are generating legitimate roster buzz as NBA teams finalize their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season — and neither story is a footnote.

Aaron Wiggins Lands in Atlanta

The Hawks quietly acquired Aaron Wiggins in a trade, and while the move didn't dominate headlines, Atlanta may have just added one of the most underrated role players in the league. Wiggins carved out a meaningful place in Oklahoma City's championship run, and the question now is whether he can replicate — or even build on — that version of himself in a new system.

For Atlanta, the stakes are real. Wiggins isn't a star, but he's exactly the kind of proven, two-way wing that separates contenders from pretenders in the East. According to Sports Illustrated, his fit could have major implications for Atlanta's ceiling this season. That's not throwaway praise — it's a signal that the Hawks' front office sees him as a genuine piece, not just depth filler.

Wiggins, a College Park product, has taken the long road to this moment. Going from a rotational piece in OKC's title run to a potentially pivotal role in Atlanta's playoff ambitions is a meaningful step. Maryland fans should be watching.

Jalen Smith on the Lakers' Radar

Meanwhile, Jalen Smith is drawing serious trade interest from Los Angeles. According to Heavy Sports, the Lakers are eyeing a potential deal involving Dalton Knecht to land Smith — a 6-10, athletic big who carries a $27 million value and fits the mold of the modern stretch center the Lakers covet.

Smith has spent time developing with the Bulls into exactly the kind of high-upside, mobile big that contending teams hunt for. His ability to shoot from distance while also protecting the rim makes him a fit in virtually any modern NBA scheme — and if the Lakers pull this off, he'd step into a high-profile role alongside established star talent in Hollywood.

The deal isn't done, and Heavy reports it hinges partly on whether Knecht is waived or dealt. But the fact that Los Angeles is willing to move a young piece like Knecht signals how seriously they view Smith as an upgrade.

The Bigger Picture for Maryland

It's a notable week for Terp basketball on the professional stage. Wiggins and Smith represent different archetypes — one a proven role player finding a new home, the other a high-upside big on the verge of a breakout opportunity — but both are central to legitimate NBA front-office conversations, not just roster afterthoughts.

Beyond these two, Maryland's NBA footprint remains wide: Bruno Fernando is in Toronto, Kevin Huerter in Detroit, Alex Len in New York, Derik Queen and Julian Reese both with New Orleans, and Jahmir Young in Miami. The pipeline is deep. But this week, it's Wiggins and Smith driving the news cycle — and College Park should be paying attention.

Maryland in the NBA: Sept. 20–26, 2026

The biggest news out of the Maryland alumni network this week came from the bayou: Julian Reese has signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, securing his first foothold in the NBA as the league creeps toward opening day.

Reese Heads to New Orleans

The former Terp big man will split time between the Pelicans and their G League affiliate under the two-way deal — a common proving ground for players looking to graduate to a full roster spot. According to Sports Illustrated, Reese's focus is clear: carve out a role and lock down a place in New Orleans' rotation before the regular season tips off.

The fit is worth examining. The Pelicans have been in rebuild mode, and a physical, paint-anchored forward like Reese could find minutes in a frontcourt that values toughness and rebounding. Whether he forces his way into meaningful playing time will depend on how training camp shakes out, but the opportunity is real.

What makes the signing a touch more intriguing is who didn't sign him. The Knicks, who held two-way contract slots of their own, passed on Reese — a decision that raised eyebrows given New York's well-documented need for frontcourt depth. SI's Knicks coverage flagged the miss as a notable one, with questions lingering about why New York didn't pursue him more aggressively. Their loss is New Orleans' gain.

Another Terp Already in the Pelicans' Building

Reese won't be alone on the New Orleans roster. Fellow Maryland alumnus Derik Queen is already in the Pelicans' system as a power forward — and he's ranked atop Sports Illustrated's list of the team's most important bench players heading into the season. The piece argues that Queen's performance could be among the biggest factors in whether New Orleans exceeds expectations. Two Terps on the same bench, both with something to prove, is a thread worth watching all season.

The Rest of the Terp Diaspora

Maryland's NBA footprint extends well beyond Louisiana. Kevin Huerter is in Detroit with the Pistons, Jalen Smith is on the Bulls' roster in Chicago, and Aaron Wiggins landed with the Hawks in Atlanta. Jahmir Young is with the Heat in Miami, Bruno Fernando suits up for the Raptors in Toronto, and Alex Len — the veteran center — is with the Knicks, the same team that declined to add Reese to their two-way picture.

The Reese signing is the week's headline, but this Maryland class has quietly assembled a respectable NBA footprint. For Reese specifically, the clock is ticking: two-way deals are auditions as much as contracts, and opening day will come fast.

Queen Under the Microscope

The most polarizing Maryland alumnus in the NBA right now isn't generating buzz for what he's already done — it's for what scouts can't agree on whether he'll ever do.

Derik Queen, the New Orleans Pelicans' young power forward, enters his sophomore NBA season carrying a weight of high expectations and pointed skepticism in equal measure. Sports Illustrated surfaced anonymous scout feedback this week that cuts to the chase: "I don't see it." That's a blunt verdict for a player the Pelicans are quietly building around, and it sets the tone for what could be the defining year of Queen's early career.

The scout's reservations center on whether Queen has the tools to develop into a genuine franchise cornerstone — not just a rotation piece or a project, but the kind of player a franchise bets its future on. The Pelicans are clearly making that wager. Whether it pays off starts now.

What makes Queen's situation particularly compelling is the historical framework being applied to his development. A separate Sports Illustrated analysis draws a pointed comparison between Queen and fellow Pelican Jeremiah Fears on one side, and the franchise's most celebrated alumni — Chris Paul and Anthony Davis — on the other. The piece is careful not to hang a Paul or Davis ceiling over Queen's head, but it maps the growth markers those legends hit in their second seasons and what that kind of trajectory realistically demands. Year 2 for Queen isn't just about stat-line improvement. It's about proving the Pelicans' faith is grounded in something real.

The framing is fair. Paul arrived in New Orleans and immediately redefined the organization's identity. Davis was a defensive force almost from tip-off. Queen inherits a legacy-rich environment that has historically rewarded young bigs who embrace the moment — and exposed those who weren't ready for it.

Wiggins Finds a New Home in Atlanta

Maryland's alumni footprint extends beyond the bayou this week. Aaron Wiggins, the former Terp guard, has landed with the Atlanta Hawks after the team made a series of targeted offseason additions around their returning core.

According to ClutchPoints, Atlanta brought in Wiggins alongside other veterans to support coach Quin Snyder entering his fifth year with the club. The Hawks' core — Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Onyeka Okongwu — is intact, and Wiggins figures into the supporting cast as a proven NBA wing. It's a functional role for a player who has carved out a professional career through reliability and defensive competence, not star power.

For Wiggins, the move to Atlanta represents a fresh start in a system designed to compete. Snyder's squads have consistently overperformed their talent ceiling through discipline and cohesion — a setting that should suit a savvy veteran role player.

The Maryland Watch

Of the eight former Terps currently active in the NBA — Fernando, Huerter, Len, Queen, Reese, Smith, Wiggins, and Young — it's Queen who commands the most attention heading into the 2026–27 season. The combination of organizational investment, high-profile comparisons, and genuine scout skepticism makes his sophomore campaign must-watch material for Maryland faithful. The Pelicans are betting on a cornerstone. The rest of the league isn't so sure. Queen has a season to settle the argument.