The New Orleans Pelicans and forward Saddiq Bey have agreed to a three-year, $55.5 million extension that includes a trade kicker. It is fully guaranteed and runs through the summer of 2030. The news came Thursday night, September 17, with the 2026-27 season just weeks away.
The deal averages $18.5 million a year, a big jump for the 27-year-old. Bey will make roughly $6.4 million this season, and the extension takes effect in the 2027-28 league year. (Reports differ slightly on his exact 2026-27 salary, from about $6.4 million to $6.6 million.) Counting this season, his total commitment over the next four years is about $62 million, close to what teammate Naji Marshall will earn over the same stretch.
Bey’s journey to this contract has been unusual. He tore the ACL in his left knee in March 2024 while with the Hawks. He then signed a three-year, $20 million deal with his hometown Wizards in 2024, but he missed the whole 2024-25 season recovering. Washington sent him to New Orleans in a three-team trade in July 2025. He was essentially a throw-in on a deal built around Jordan Poole.
He made the most of the change of scenery. In 72 games, 64 starts, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, shooting 45.1% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 84.1% from the line. He had three of his four highest-scoring games last season, including a 42-point night against Utah. He also ranked third on the team in on/off differential.
If New Orleans trades him, Bey can collect a bonus of up to 15% of his remaining salary, paid by the Pelicans. Some observers see this as a gentler alternative to a no-trade clause, since it keeps the Pelicans free to move him if they ever rebuild. The contract’s size also makes it easy to trade.
Troy Weaver drafted Bey in Detroit and now runs the Pelicans’ basketball operations. The front office is reportedly very high on Bey both on and off the court.
Not everyone is sold. Bey is a strong scorer but not a star, so the price may draw criticism. One analysis called the deal a calculated risk, arguing that its value depends largely on this season: if Bey keeps shooting well and the team improves, it could look like a bargain, but if the team struggles and his efficiency slips, it becomes another commitment without a larger plan.
For a player who spent a full season rehabbing, it’s a strong reward. For the Pelicans, it’s a bet that a productive, still-prime forward is worth keeping while they work out their long-term direction.
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