Ah, trust, the basis of any human relationship after all. Among our friends the large-billed birds, we have on one side a Zion Williamson who is very confident in himself, and on the other the executives of New Orleans who are on their guard. A great story started in 2019 which should extend beyond next season, but at what price and under what conditions? This will cause many conflicts in the negotiation…
Zion Williamson’s profile is unique, so unique that the lower body struggles to follow, well especially one of the two legs. In three seasons, he had the right to an operation of the right meniscus and a fracture of the right foot… as Mister V would say, that’s a lot there, isn’t it? Incessant injuries that kept the first 2019 Draft pick off the court for 141 games, including a shortened rookie season and a completely blank third season. We therefore understand why the general manager de New Orleans, Trajan Langdonand his colleagues in a suit would show restraint in their offer to extend the contract to the former Duke. Important point in feat with the accounting service: Zion is eligible for a so-called five-season max extension. Numerically, what does that mean? His contract extension is estimated at between $182 million and $195 million. But do we really want to give so much money to a player so often on crutches? Zion is rather confident about him, he has just resumed training without restrictions and has only one desire after seeing the Playoffs of his teammates: to extend the adventure in the Bayou. The management agrees with his player on this point, but the guaranteed amount would not be as high as expected, because it would not exceed 100 million dollars according to Brian Windhorst from ESPN.
Insight from @WindhorstESPN on the upcoming contract extension between Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
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– Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) May 27, 2022
The interior of the Pels has averaged 25.7 points on 60.4% shooting and 7 rebounds over its last two seasons, but for some observers, the contribution off the field is much duller. JJ Redick had even underlined a few months ago his lack of involvement within the team. The Pelicans are going to want to protect their backs so they don’t lose too much if Zion Williamson is injured again in such a serious way one day. Louisiana executives could therefore copy the strategy of their Philadelphia friends regarding the extension after Joel Embiid’s rookie contract. In 2018, the finalist for the title of MVP of the same year signed a five-year contract extension after three first seasons marked by injuries as well. The Sixers have therefore chosen to place a minimum of minutes to play per season, and if the pivot is injured and does not play more minutes, the franchise grants itself the right to cut it. This precaution then appeared almost obligatory for the Sixers, but the injury would have had to be career ending for Philly to actually part ways with Joel Embiid. So a warning to the Pelicans: even though Zion will become a restricted free agent if they don’t extend it this summer… assuming the big teddy does make it to an All-NBA team in 2022-23, he will be eligible for the contract supermax. And there, New Orleans will not be able – and will not want – perhaps to align itself with the other franchises on such exorbitant amounts.
Negotiations between the Pelicans executive and Zion Williamson can begin on July 1. Will the Volatiles take precautions similar to the Sixers for Embiid, or will Winnie the Pooh be able to persuade them that they can trust him financially? Mystery and gumdrop…
Source text: NBC Sports
