The Pelicans have a center issue to sort out, and Saddiq Bey might be the most useful chip they have to fix it.
New Orleans is crowded at forward, and that makes Bey a logical name to move if the right center becomes available. The idea is simple: use a player whose value is peaking to fill a spot of clear need.
That value is real. Bey was a strong pickup by Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver last offseason, and after injuries slowed him earlier in his career, he stayed on the floor in 72 games for the Pelicans last season. He also put up a career-best 17.7 points per game and was arguably New Orleans’ most steady performer.
The contract situation adds another layer. The 2026-2027 season is the final year of Bey’s current deal, which puts the Pelicans in a familiar spot: either commit long term or look to move him before they have to make that decision. He’ll make $6.5+ million this season, and after what he produced last year, a raise is coming.
New Orleans does have another path, though. It could hold onto Bey, start the season, and revisit the situation around the trade deadline.
That would keep options open, but it also carries risk. If Bey gets hurt again or his play slips, his trade value could fall fast.
That’s why this offseason looks like the cleanest window to act. His value is at its highest point, and the Pelicans could use that leverage to chase a starting center. They’ve got some center options to consider, including free agency, but money is tight, and a trade might deliver a better answer.
The forward rotation is part of what makes this all possible. New Orleans already has a logjam there, and Bey might not even crack the starting five. A current starting look would have Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson at forward, with Bey coming off the bench.
That doesn’t mean Bey hasn’t earned more. Based on last season, he probably deserves a starting job somewhere. If the Pelicans move him, they’d also be sending him to a place where he can start and get more minutes in a contract year.
Everything depends on the market for centers and what kind of player Bey can bring back. But if New Orleans can turn him into a solid starting center who plays 25 to 30 minutes a night, that’s a move they’d have to make.
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