Saddiq Bey, now a member of the Washington Wizards, playing for the Atlanta Hawks in 2024. Image courtesy of Getty Images
The Washington Wizards continue to take strides to improve and fast-forward their rebuild. They have signed free agent forward Saddiq Bey to a three-year contract worth $20 million. The signing was confirmed on Wednesday night.
Bey is currently recovering from an ACL tear which he suffered on March 11 of this past NBA season. It means that he will not immediately be available come season’s start. But as the Wizards are rebuilding and feature a slew of young players, they can let Bey, 25, take his time before returning.
Adequate Averages
Originally making his debut in 2020 for the Detroit Pistons, he was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks at the 2023 Trade Deadline. He averaged 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last year. He shot 41.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from three-point range.
Those numbers are similar to his career figures, in which he has averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He also shot 40.8 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from three-point range.
Low Risk, High Reward
Also key is Bey’s free-throw shooting. He has been a consistent 80-percent-plus free throw shooter, which has become a part of his game. The 6-foot-7 forward will provide some depth on the court for a rebuilding Wizards team.
With the contract having an average annual value (AAV) of just $6.6 million per year, it is an extremely team-friendly deal: a low risk, high reward scenario.
That is basically the summation of the Wizards’ upcoming season as a whole: low expectations, but high reward if they build in the correct direction. And the Saddiq Bey deal certainly aids in that department.
