The New Orleans Pelicans recently parted ways with Head Coach Stan Van Gundy, but finding a new coach isn’t the only problem facing the franchise. A report by The Athletic according to Zion Williamson is currently not enthusiastic about his team.
Accordingly, New Orleans has so far failed to please Zion and his family. “Several” family members would therefore like to see the # 1 pick from 2019 end up with a different team, the report says. The displeasure with the Pelicans should also be conveyed quite loudly to the outside world.
However, it is not clear whether this wish has already reached Williamson himself. Sources close to him say his focus is only on basketball and that he plans to win more games with the Pelicans next season.
Meanwhile, rumors of a bad mood in the team were spreading again and again during the season. Brandon Ingram in particular is said to have disagreed with the coaching style of the now dismissed Van Gundy, and the results were also incorrect: Despite high ambitions and an individually strong Williamson season, it was not even enough for the play-in tournament in the west.
With all the trouble, it’s important to mention that New Orleans is currently in control. Williamson is still playing on his rookie contract, which runs until the summer of 2023. At the end of this contract, he becomes a restricted free agent, unless he waives a lot of money and accepts the qualifying offer for 23/24 (17.6 million).
In this case, he would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 and could freely choose a new team. However, due to the financial differences, this almost never happens. If Zion goes the conventional way, the Pelicans still have a lot of time to satisfy the currently 20-year-old.
