The Pelicans didn’t just hand Saddiq Bey a new deal. They may have nudged the whole wing picture in New Orleans into a new shape.
Bey landed a three-year, $55 million extension, a number that stands out for more than one reason. He was eligible for a four-year, $93 million deal, so the Pelicans getting him at a sub-$20 million annual salary is a big win, especially after a career year.
But the immediate ripple effect is obvious: Trey Murphy III trade talk is back.
New Orleans now has Murphy III, Herb Jones and Bey all tied to long-term deals, and that kind of overlap usually means somebody eventually gets squeezed out. In a perfect setup, the odd man out would be Jones, whose offense has dipped in each of the last two seasons and who also slipped a bit defensively last year.
But that also appears to be why Jones is the least likely to move. His value is down, while his upside as an All-Defensive-caliber defender still gives the Pelicans a reason to bet on a bounce-back instead of selling low.
Murphy III is a different story. His stock keeps climbing, and that’s because he fits just about anywhere.
He’s become one of the league’s cleanest plug-and-play wings, the kind of player who brings size and elite off-ball scoring without forcing a team to redesign its offense around him. He also doesn’t overlap with Bey the way Bey fits alongside Jones, which only adds to the pressure.
That’s why Bey’s extension makes Murphy III’s future look even more uncertain.
The Pelicans have been linked to Murphy III all offseason, and the asking price around him has reportedly stayed firm. That part doesn’t seem likely to change.
What has changed is the logic around moving him. With Bey now locked in, New Orleans has another starting-caliber wing in the mix, and that makes the idea of dealing Murphy III and using the return to balance out the roster much more appealing than before.
Bey can score too. He put up 17.7 points per game and hit 36.7 percent from three off the bench, and there’s reason to think those numbers could carry over. Still, if he’s going to fully hit that level, starting may be the path that gets him there.
And that’s where the roster math gets messy. Murphy III, Jones and Zion Williamson are all ahead of him as starters right now. Someone has to give eventually, and Murphy III is the most logical piece because his value is the strongest.
That doesn’t mean a blockbuster is coming before the season. It doesn’t mean New Orleans is about to flip Murphy III for a pile of players and draft picks. But if he turns in another season like the one that produced 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 37.9 percent from deep, then the Pelicans would be staring at peak value.
That’s the real shift here. Bey’s extension doesn’t force a trade, but it makes the possibility feel much more real.
And for a team with three wings who all look best starting, that kind of overlap can’t last forever. The Celtics moved Jaylen Brown this summer for financial flexibility and roster balance, and while Murphy III is on a much friendlier deal than Brown, the same basic question hangs over New Orleans: what’s the point of keeping three starters at the same spot if you can turn one into a fuller roster and future assets?
In Other News...
Saddiq Bey Deal Hints At A Pelicans Rotation Shift Under Mosley
Saddiq Beys new three-year, $55 million extension gives the Pelicans a clearer picture of how they want to shape their second unit going into next season. The move points to a defined bench scoring role for Bey, with the kind of sixth-man responsibility that can stabilize a rotation and take some pressure off the starters when the offense bogs down.
For New Orleans, the bigger question is how that fits alongside the rest of the roster and how much flexibility it leaves in the back end of the rotation. The deal suggests a real commitment to Beys place in the mix, but it also opens the door to broader lineup tinkering as the Pelicans sort out which combinations make the most sense under Mosley. [Read more 🡒]
Pelicans Are Counting On Jamahl Mosley To Finally Unlock Zion
Zion Williamson is heading into his eighth NBA season with the Pelicans, and the question around him is still the same one that has followed him for years: how much more can the offense get out of one of the leagues most unusual talents? New head coach Jamahl Mosley has already signaled real optimism about Williamsons untapped potential, especially as a playmaker, and that matters for a team trying to make the most of a healthier roster and a fresh start on the sideline.
The fit, though, has to work in a few different ways. Williamson has not always had the kind of transition chances that maximize his game, and New Orleans has also dealt with defensive issues that can make life harder for everyone else on the floor. Mosleys challenge is bigger than simply designing more touches for Williamson, because the Pelicans are counting on his coaching to help unlock a version of Zion that has been talked about for years but never quite sustained. [Read more 🡒]
Former Saints DT Created A Surprise Pelicans Crossover In Kenner
Khalen Saunders turned up in an unexpected place this week, linking two corners of the citys pro sports scene by attending the New Orleans Pelicans G League tryouts for the Laketown Squadron. The former Saints defensive tackle even shared his performance stats and physical condition from the workout on social media, making his presence at the event feel more than just a casual appearance.
The tryouts came as the Squadron continue their move to Kenner, with new coach Brandon Demas on hand along with Jamahl Mosley. For a franchise that has spent plenty of time building local connections, a familiar name from the Saints side showing up at a Pelicans affiliate event added a little extra crossover energy to a busy day in the area. [Read more 🡒]