The New Orleans Pelicans took an interesting approach to this year’s trade deadline. Even though the Pelicans were well below .500 and had zero draft capital in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, they decided to sit out. One of the players often discussed as a trade candidate was Saddiq Bey, who is having a great season and has a very marketable contract.
The decision to keep him was clearly the right one, as Bey has continued his strong start to the year in the second half. He scored one on Thursday game-high 42 points to go with five rebounds and seven assists against Utah.
For a team in the middle of a developmental year, it was unclear where Bey would fit, and when he was acquired, he was widely seen as a throw-in as part of the Jordan Poole deal. But with each passing game, he proves that he should be seen as part of the long-term core of the franchise.
At 26, he has the best season of his NBA careerwith averages of 17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three on more than five attempts per game. That production up This represents $6.3 million annually exceptional value and is a big reason why New Orleans was right not to move him at the deadline.
Bey has established himself as a core piece
Since Dejounte Murray’s return, I have continued to emphasize the leadership qualities he brings. For a team that, quite frankly, hasn’t been good this season, having a guy who truly believes every game is winnable and never gives up helps create a culture for young players like Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. This is also something that Bey has embodied all season.
No one on the Pelicans roster exemplifies what it means to be a true professional at the NBA level. Bey shows up every day, ready to work, with his head down, regardless of the result in the previous match, and that’s something that carries over to young talent.
Bey’s leadership goes beyond the standard he sets in his work. As I mentioned, he had a team-high 42 points in the Pels’ 129-118 win over the Jazz — that night, he was everything. He was the closer in this game for the Pelicans, with 23 of his 42 points comes in the final frame of a ridiculous shooting on 9/11. Whether it was attacking the rim or knocking down shots from the perimeter, this play was a prime example of his elite inside-out scoring ability.
In the NBA, capable wings who score at all three levels, defensively and on the glass, are competing more than ever. So for a Pelicans team that has had very little to be excited about this season, Bey taking a tight budget and establishing himself as someone who should be considered a foundational piece is huge. With Bey eligible for an extension this summer, the Pelicans will soon be faced with a major decision on a player who has made a compelling case to be part of their core.
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