Saddiq Bey
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Pelicans' Saddiq Bey during a game against the Houston Rockets in December 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers have long been viewed as buyers ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, with the front office expected to pursue a 3-and-D upgrade on the wing.
While general manager Rob Pelinka has also been reported to be canvassing the market for a center, the priority appears to remain finding a young, dependable wing who can fit seamlessly alongside the team’s core.
A wide range of names have surfaced in recent weeks, including Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Keon Ellis, Jonathan Kuminga, Miles Bridges, DeAndre Hunter, and Andrew Wiggins.
Now, another option has entered the conversation.
Lakers Add New Name to Wing Wishlist
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, New Orleans Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey has emerged as another player the Lakers are monitoring.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have gauged the trade market looking for 3-and-D wing help, with targets ranging from Herb Jones to Andrew Wiggins to Jonathan Kuminga to Saddiq Bey, etcetera,” Scotto reported.
Bey, 26, has put together a strong campaign in New Orleans after missing the entire 2024-25 season with an ACL tear.
Through 42 games, he is averaging 15.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steal per game, while shooting 44.5% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range.
Since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2020, Bey has experienced a winding NBA journey, spending time with the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards before being dealt to the Pelicans in the summer of 2024.
He is currently in the second year of a three-year, $19 million contract, earning $6.1 million this season with his salary rising to $6.4 million in 2026-27.
At 6-foot-8, Bey checks several boxes for Los Angeles. He offers size on the wing, a reliable perimeter shot, and solid defensive versatility.
New Orleans is reportedly testing the market following a red-hot January stretch in which Bey is averaging 19.5 points per game while shooting 45% from beyond the arc on five attempts per night.
Lakers’ Asset Constraints Shape Trade Outlook
Any potential deal would have to navigate the Lakers’ limited flexibility. Los Angeles is believed to be actively shopping its expiring contracts, which total more than $40 million in salary.
“The Lakers have dangled the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura ($18.26 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million) on the trade market, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto added.
However, multiple reports have suggested that those expiring deals have generated minimal outside interest. The Golden State Warriors have reportedly rebuffed any approach involving Jonathan Kuminga, viewing the Lakers’ offers as insufficient.
Meanwhile, second-year guard Dalton Knecht, who has reportedly requested a trade away from Los Angeles, is believed to have a very limited market, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.
As has been the case throughout the deadline cycle, draft capital remains the primary obstacle. The Lakers currently control only one tradable first-round pick, significantly narrowing their options if they hope to make multiple upgrades.
What New Orleans would ultimately demand in return for Bey remains unclear. Still, with limited paths available, Pelinka is believed to have begun exploring creative solutions.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin has reported that the Lakers are looking into trading either their 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in exchange for multiple future selections.
If successful, such a move would allow Los Angeles to unlock additional first-rounders, regain access to its own future picks, and dramatically expand the range of trade constructions available both before the deadline and beyond it.