Now that the Detroit Pistons are a relevant and competitive playoff team, fans may have forgotten the doldrums of the recent past. In the previous five seasons before the 2024-25 campaign, the Pistons didn't win more than 23 games in any season, putting together one of the more miserable stretches in franchise history. During this process, there were a lot of disappointments, including failed draft picks and prospects who showed flashes but didn't go anywhere.
One of those was the 19th-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Saddiq Bey. The former Villanova star was acquired by Detroit on draft day and had a very promising first two seasons with the Pistons. Ever since leaving the Pistons, however, things haven't gone right for Bey, who ended up on the Wizards in the 2024 offseason.
After missing all of last season with an ACL tear, Bey was just traded by the Wizards to the Pelicans without ever suiting up for the team, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
The New Orleans Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
Former Pistons F Saddiq Bey Gets Traded by the Wizards
This is the second time Bey has been traded in his career. The 26-year-old forward was traded by the Pistons to the Hawks at the 2023 trade deadline, in the move that landed James Wiseman in Detroit. This trade obviously backfired as the Pistons decided not to retain Wiseman after one and a half seasons with the team.
Bey, on the other hand, signed a three-year, $20 million deal with Washington last summer despite suffering an ACL tear in March 2024. Many assumed that he would be able to recover and make his debut with the Wizards, but the team decided to hold him out after getting recalled on March 23 from his G League assignment.
Now, Bey will get a chance to revive his career in New Orleans after getting dealt alongside Jordan Poole. With Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy, the Pelicans have a lot of talent. Where Bey will fit into that rotation will be fascinating to see.