The New Orleans Pelicans’ loss Monday night to the New York Knicks was their fourth in a row, and as their losing streak continues to deepen, the likelihood of them becoming sellers at the trade deadline increases. While many fans immediately focus on names like Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herb Jones when discussing potential trade candidates, I believe Saddiq Bey is actually the most realistic and likely player the Pelicans could move.
When Bey was acquired this offseason as part of the Jordan Poole-CJ McCollum trade, many initially saw him as a trade asset. That said, his production to start this season has had a lot more impact than just a throw-in.
Bey has always been a solid role player, but year after year he struggled to be an efficient threat, which wasn’t an issue during his time in New Orleans. In December, Bey averaged 17.8 points and 2.3 assists while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor. Those numbers alone make him attractive on the trade market, but the value of the team’s attributes goes beyond scoring.
Despite playing on a struggling team, Bey provides consistent effort, professionalism and defensive effort every night. He uses his frame and size on the defensive end to force attacking players to make decisions from difficult angles. He has also been a possession extender all season, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game in December, including 1.6 on the offensive glass. Having a wing that can rebound at the level Bey has this season is something every contending team is looking for.
Bey can be a scoring spark plug
We saw Monday night that when the Pelicans’ leading scorers struggled early, Bey was able to pick up the slack. He had 23 points in the first quarter of this game, and while he only scored three points the rest of the game, his ability to heat up like a microwave was the reason the Pelicans weren’t blown out early in Monday’s game.
This is not an isolated achievement. On December 18 against Houston, Bey was instrumental in the Pelicans’ comeback victory over the Rockets. He got hot in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 29 points in the final frame alone and dropping another 6 points in overtime. It’s rare that a role player can take over a game, which is why I think he might be this team’s most sought-after asset at the trade deadline.
Since Bey has a highly marketable contract with an annual value of just under $7 million per season, the Pelicans could spark a bidding war if they make him available. Given his production, versatility and team-friendly deal, Saddiq Bey could become New Orleans’ most sought-after asset when trade season rolls around.
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