The New Orleans Pelicans' post-All-Star surge has been a joy to watch as things are finally starting to click in the Big Easy, and the team is 10-5 over their last 15 games. However, prior to this stretch, the Pelicans' season was one filled with disappointment and struggles. That is, unless your name is Saddiq Bey, who has been Mr. Reliable all season long for New Orleans.
When Bey was originally acquired as part of the Jordan Poole trade, not many thought anything of it. Sure, he was expected to be a solid bench scorer and maybe have one or two big scoring nights, but I don't think anyone expected him to come off an ACL injury and play 64 games and start in the second-most games on the team. The way he burst onto the scene for the Pelicans has been huge, and as the offseason looms, there is one clear move the Pelicans front office has to make.
Heading into next season, Bey may be on the best contract in the league with an annual salary of just over $6 million. The problem is that this is the final year of his current deal. Given the production and stability he's offered New Orleans this season, giving him a long-term extension has to be priority No. 1.
Extending Bey should be the focus of the offseason
Many people, myself included, have said the Pelicans need to focus on acquiring draft capital in the 2026 NBA draft, since the team traded its first-round pick to Atlanta last summer. However, given the production Bey has provided—17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game—and his ability to will this team to wins, that need for a draft pick should take a back seat to extending him.
We've seen it countless times this season in the clutch, the Pelicans can trust Bey to carry them home. He's also shown an incredible ability to step into whatever role is needed of him.
Most recently, on Thursday, Dejounte Murray was out of the lineup, and Bey stepped up as the team's lead playmaker, dishing out six assists with zero turnovers. Early this season, against the Bulls, he had a 13-rebound game because Chicago was running a centerless lineup, and he took advantage of the opening. Or even back to his clutch scoring, against the Jazz at the end of February, the Pels needed someone to carry them home, and he did that, scoring 14 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Bey's adaptability and consistency for the Pelicans this season isn’t something they can risk letting walk out the door. Especially with all signs pointing to running things back with the same core next season, the importance of keeping Bey long-term should be at the top of the front office's summer agenda.