The New Orleans Pelicans are now allowed to extend Saddiq Bey starting Saturday, and there’s a strong case for moving quickly.
Bey arrived in New Orleans as something of a throw-in in the Jordan Poole trade with the Washington Wizards last season, but he wound up giving the Pelicans far more than anyone could have expected. Before the injury, he was already a useful bench wing. Then the season took a turn.
He had missed the entire 2024/2025 season after suffering an ACL tear at the end of the previous campaign. Even with that setback hanging over him, Bey turned in a career year for New Orleans once he got on the floor.
He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 45.1/36.7/84.1. That made him the second-best shooter on the team, which was not the expectation going in.
His impact went beyond the box score. New Orleans was +2.5 points per 100 possessions better with Bey on the court, and he filled a role that few others on the roster could handle. By all accounts, he was also a terrific teammate, which only strengthens the case for the Pelicans to reward him.
At 27, Bey is young enough to fit a four-year deal and still make sense no matter which direction the franchise chooses. If New Orleans eventually pivots toward a rebuild around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, Bey could remain part of the roster or become a useful trade chip later on.
He started 64 of his 72 games last season, a far cry from what was expected when the year began. Instead, he became a clean fit for what James Borrego wanted to do, and he delivered some huge scoring nights along the way, including a season-high 42 points and five games with at least 30.
Given the current roster, Bey would likely be in the starting five again. That would depend on how well he meshes with what Jamahl Mosley wants to do, but the broader point is simple: Bey fits just about anywhere.
As for the money, a reasonable range for his next deal looks to be around $16 million to $19 million per year. John Collins, a 28-year-old forward, landed a three-year, $51 million contract at $17 million annually, which would be an easy template to use. Aaron Nesmith’s two-year, $40.39 million deal would push toward the higher end of that range.
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