Looking back at the 2025 offseason, the New Orleans Pelicans front office has made its fair share of mistakes. The biggest point critics point to is the decision to part ways with their 2026 first-round pick in a deal with the Hawks to land Derik Queen. With that pick projected to land in the top three, it’s understandable why so many have criticized New Orleans for that move.
Another move that received backlash was the decision to trade CJ McCollum, who was on an expiring deal. for Jordan Poolewho still has another year left approximately a $34 million cap hit. This deal was even more criticized considering how Poole has performed this season, shooting just 37.4 percent from the field and being removed from the team’s rotation at one point.
What saved this deal for New Orleans is Saddiq Bey, who was considered a throw-in at the time of the trade, but his production made Poole look like a throw-in.
On the year, Bey is averaging a career-high 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three. Bey’s production this season has made it much easier for Pelicans fans to stomach another year of Jordan Poole’s contract.
A different gear since the break
Since returning from the All-Star break, the Pelicans are 4-1, and Bey is one of, if not the biggest, driving force behind this late-season surge.
About the five games since the breakHe averages 25.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. This stretch includes a 42-point explosion against Utah, where Bey shut down the Jazz by scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter alone.
What has made Bey so unstoppable for the Pelicans is his improved rim finish. He converts 62.5 percent of his attempts at the rim. Throughout his time in the NBA, he has been someone who respects defenses as a floor spacer and mid-range scorer, but now that he’s getting to the rim and finishing with ease, it’s so hard to plan for him. He has consistently punished weaker defenders by creating angles, getting under the rim and finishing over the top.
By getting Bey in the Poole-for-McCollum trade, the Pelicans can essentially become the winners of a deal they were widely labeled losers of. At 26 years old, it appears the Pelicans front office has found a gem and a long-term piece in Saddiq Bey.
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