The New Orleans Pelicans are starting to find their feet during this four-game win streak, raising the question of what the team’s direction should be as trade season approaches. With the Pelicans healthy and just 5.5 games out of play-in position, could we see the front office give this group a chance to make a push in the new year, or does it still make the most sense to remain sellers?
When Joe Dumars evaluates this roster and decides on each player’s future, one of the toughest decisions he has to make is about Saddiq Bey.
When the Pelicans acquired Bey as part of a roster shakeup trade that saw the Pelicans and Wizards trade CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole, Bey was seen as a throw-in. Having spent the entire 2024-25 season on the sidelines recovering from an ACL tear, it was unclear how he might recover this season.
Those doubts were quickly put to rest as Bey has been excellent this season and has been one of the few consistent bright spots for this team. Through the first 28 games of the season, Bey has averaged 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game on a career-high shooting from the field at 45.4 percent. Whether it was during the team’s current winning streak or earlier this season when the team was struggling, he has always provided a winning effort.
Combining his production with his relatively cheap price of just over $6.4 million for the next two seasons, contenders will likely have a lot of interest in Bey when the trade deadline rolls around.
The trade or keep Bey dilemma isn’t a bad one
In my opinion, the Pelicans should use the same approach when it comes to trading Saddiq Bey as they should with the rest of this team. The only players who should really be untouchable are Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen and most likely Trey Murphy III. That doesn’t mean the front office should actively look to trade away players, but it should listen to offers. If they can make a first-round pick for Bey, I don’t see why you wouldn’t take it.
Even though the Pelicans don’t have their own first-round pick at the end of this season, that shouldn’t stop them from being in asset accumulation mode. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of what Bey has done for this team this season, but the focus shouldn’t be on the present, but on the future.
With Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Jose Alvarado all expected to generate trade interest already, Bey’s potential to do the same becomes even more intriguing. The Pelicans’ front office will be faced with a lot of questions as the trade deadline approaches, and the answers will only become clearer in the next set of games. If this group can keep the win streak alive, they might be able to give this one a shot. If not, there could be a roster shake-up.
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