The New Orleans Pelicans are starting to look like a team that’s finally putting the pieces together. A four-game win streak has injected some much-needed energy into a season that, up until recently, felt stuck in neutral. With the roster finally healthy and the team sitting just 5.5 games out of a play-in spot, the big question in New Orleans is whether this group has earned the right to keep pushing-or if the front office should still be thinking about selling when the trade deadline rolls around.
That’s where things get especially interesting. Because while the Pelicans have a few big names who’ve drawn attention in trade talks, one of the more intriguing decisions looming for executive Joe Dumars is what to do with Saddiq Bey.
Now, Bey wasn’t exactly the headline name when he landed in New Orleans. He came over as part of the deal that swapped CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole-a move that was more about shaking up the core than anything else.
At the time, Bey was seen as a secondary piece, especially since he was coming off an ACL tear that sidelined him for the entire 2024-25 season. There were real questions about how he’d look coming back.
Those questions didn’t last long.
Through 28 games this season, Bey has been one of the Pelicans’ most reliable contributors. He’s averaging 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and a steal per game, all while shooting a career-best 45.4% from the field.
And it’s not just about the numbers-Bey’s been giving consistent effort, whether the team was sliding or surging. He’s been a steady presence in a season that’s had more than its share of turbulence.
Add in the fact that he’s on a team-friendly deal-just over $6.4 million annually for the next two years-and it’s easy to see why contending teams might come calling as the deadline approaches. For a playoff-bound roster looking to add depth on the wing, Bey checks a lot of boxes: he defends, he rebounds, he spaces the floor, and he doesn’t need a ton of touches to be effective.
So now the Pelicans are looking at a good problem to have: do you hold onto a productive, affordable player who’s helping you win right now, or do you cash in while his value is high?
The answer isn’t black and white. It’s more about how the Pelicans see themselves-not just today, but in the bigger picture.
If this recent win streak is the start of something real, then maybe you give this group a chance to keep building chemistry and momentum. But if it’s just a hot stretch in an otherwise inconsistent season, then it might be time to pivot toward the future.
That future likely revolves around a few key names. Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen are part of the long-term vision, and Trey Murphy III has shown enough to be considered close to untouchable.
Beyond that, though, the Pelicans should be open to listening. Not necessarily shopping everyone, but definitely taking calls.
If someone’s willing to offer a first-round pick for Bey, it’s a conversation worth having-especially considering New Orleans doesn’t control its own first-rounder this year. Asset accumulation still matters.
There’s also the reality that several other Pelicans-Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Jose Alvarado-are already drawing interest around the league. If Bey joins that list, the Pelicans could find themselves at the center of some serious deadline buzz.
The next few weeks will be telling. If this team keeps winning, maybe the front office gives them a chance to ride it out and see where the season goes.
But if the momentum stalls? A roster shakeup might be on the table.
Either way, Saddiq Bey’s emergence has given the Pelicans options-and in the NBA, that’s never a bad thing.