The New Orleans Pelicans took an interesting approach to this year's trade deadline. Although the Pelicans were well under .500 and had zero draft capital in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, they decided to stay pat. One of the players often discussed as a trade candidate was wing Saddiq Bey, who is having a great season and is on a very tradeable contract.
The decision to hold onto him was obviously the right one, as Bey has continued his strong start to the year in the second half. On Thursday, he scored a game-high 42 points to go with five rebounds and seven assists against Utah.
For a team in the midst of a developmental year, it was unclear where Bey would fit in, and when he was acquired, he was widely viewed as a throw-in as part of the Jordan Poole deal. But with each passing game, he’s proving that he should be viewed as part of the franchise’s long-term core.
At 26 years old, he's having the best season of his NBA career, posting 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 over 5 attempts per game. That production at $6.3 million annually represents exceptional value and is a major reason 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've continued to highlight the leadership qualities he brings. For a team that has frankly not been good this season, having a guy who truly believes every game is winnable and never gives up helps establish a culture for young players like Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. This is also something Bey has embodied all season.
No one on the Pelicans roster is a bigger example of what it means to be a true professional at the NBA level. Bey shows up every day, ready to work, head down, no matter what the result was in the game before, and that's something that rubs off on 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—on that night, he was everything. He was the closer in this game for the Pelicans, with 23 of his 42 points coming in the final frame on a ridiculous 9/11 shooting. Whether it was attacking the rim or knocking down shots from the perimeter, this game was a prime example of his elite inside-out scoring ability.
In the NBA, having capable wings that score at all three levels, compete defensively, and on the glass is at more of a premium than ever. So, for a Pelicans team that has had very little to be excited about this season, Bey's balling on a budget and establishing himself as someone that should be viewed as a foundational piece is huge. With Bey becoming extension-eligible this summer, the Pelicans will soon face an important decision about a player who has made a compelling case to be part of their core.