What Is Happening Between Zion Willamson and the Pelicans? Shocking Revelations Around 2x NBA All-Star’s Possible Dead End in New Orleans Come To Light

At 23, Zion Williamson has become a dominant force in the NBA; his strong physical coupled with his speed and skill has made him one of the top players today. He was drafted as the No.1 overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA Draft. In 2022, he signed a rookie max contract extension with the Pelicans worth up to $231 million as a result of which Williamson would remain with the team through the 2027-28 season.

Despite the talent the 2X NBA All-Star brings to the floor, his poor health has always been a major contender against the potential he might possess. This has become a crucial clause in his contract and as per sources, this might cut short his time in the team.

The Pelicans want a safety net

After his draft, Williamson missed a large portion of his first three NBA seasons due to various injuries, including the entirety of the 2021-22 season recovering from an injured foot. Due to his inconsistency in showing up for games because of his health issues, the Pelicans did not want to take any chances and so put hedges in the contract that would have otherwise locked him in till 2028.

According to sources, “the final three years of the deal are no longer guaranteed after Williamson was able to only play in 29 games last season. By missing more than 22 games last season, Williamson triggered a clause that turned the salary he is owed for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons from guaranteed to non-guaranteed.”

This gives the Pelicans the legal power to trade Williamson following the 2024-25 season without having to recur any fines or “financial ramifications.” Moreover, if the 23-year-old power forward misses a significant number of games this season, the team can reduce his guaranteed salary for the 2024-25 season. At the same time, there are other conditions in this deal, as well.

Games played will be proportional to the salary

In the first three years with the Pelicans, Williamson has appeared in only 85 games, missing a whopping 141 games due to various injuries. His availability and health have once again become key concerns. Therefore, the Pelicans have taken matters into their own hands and so, as per the sources, “The complex deal, key details of which were confirmed by six league sources on condition of anonymity, contained unusual measures taken by the Pelicans to directly connect guaranteed salary with games played.”

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This season, Williamson has appeared in 23 of the 28 games the Pelicans have played so far. He boasts averages of 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. If he can somehow churn out a healthy season, we might just as well see the greatness unveiled from this powerhouse.

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What do you think about this new development? Let us know in the comments.