Jeremiah Fears is a talented rookie who had a promising first year in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the team's decision to not have him play in the Summer League is puzzling. Fears, along with fellow rookie Derik Queen, is not participating in the Summer League, which could have been a great opportunity for them to improve their skills and build their on-court connection. The Pelicans have a history of having their impact players return to the Summer League in their second season, with players like Trey Murphy III, Dyson Daniels, and Yves Missi all playing in the tournament in their second year. Fears, who received All-NBA Rookie Second Team honors in his first year, could have benefited from the extra playing time to develop his skills further. The Pelicans suffered their 12th straight Summer League loss, and having Fears and Queen in the rotation could have sent a strong message to the rest of the team. Fears' production decreased when his minutes were reduced, and extra reps in the Summer League could have helped him hone in on his shooting and defensive awareness. With the team expected to make moves to offload either Jordan Poole or Dejounte Murray, Fears will see the backcourt rotation thinning next year, and getting additional playing time would have helped him develop further to match the growing expectations placed on him. The duo is getting plenty of work in this offseason, making the training facility a second home to them. Fears and Queen are the only two lottery picks from last year outside of the top four of the draft who aren't on their team's Summer League rosters. The Pelicans' decision to not have them play in the Summer League is a missed opportunity for the players to improve and establish themselves as future leaders on the team. Fears' stats from his rookie season show promise, and with the right development, he could become a key player for the Pelicans. The team's decision to not have him play in the Summer League may hinder his growth, but Fears is still working hard in the offseason to improve his skills. The Pelicans' Summer League performance has been disappointing, and having Fears and Queen in the rotation could have made a difference. The team's history of having impact players return to the Summer League in their second season suggests that Fears and Queen could have benefited from the experience. Fears' development is crucial for the Pelicans' success next season, and the team's decision to not have him play in the Summer League may have been a mistake.