Zion Williamson didn’t play a single game during the 2021/22 NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans as he recovered from a foot injury that kept him sidelined for a whole season. Zion has played only 85 games in three seasons in the league, which has already set the alarms for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The young player is still seen as the future of his franchise, but seeing how well the Pelicans played this season, even reaching the playoff and stealing two games from the league-best team Phoenix Suns in the first round.
These situations have sparked rumors about a potential exit of the player, who has struggled with injuries even before he made his NBA debut. The Pelicans have a great group of guys that shocked the world this season, and one would imagine that having Zion on the court would make them better, but some people think they should get rid of the former No. 1 overall pick and focus their attention on another star.
That said, Zion is still lined up to get a major contract extension from the Pelicans. If he somehow manages to stay healthy and becomes the player that he’s expected to become, he could get over $220 million in five years.
Via Yossi Gazlan of HoopsHype:
Depending on who you ask, the Pelicans either have a no-brainer or extremely difficult decision to make on Zion Williamson. The former first-overall pick will become eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension this offseason but has only appeared in 85 of 226 regular-season games in his career. When he plays, he’s a borderline All-NBA player who cannot be stopped at the rim. The issue with him isn’t if he’s worth such a contract but rather if he will play in enough games to justify it.
Williamson could command a five-year maximum contract projected at $185.7 through 2026-27. The Pelicans can put provisions in his extension that would allow him to earn up to $222.9 million over five years if he earns All-NBA honors next season. They may be willing to give him a maximum contract but could require some compromises, such as injury protection should he not appear in enough games.
Zion has shown flashes of a superstar when he’s healthy, but his body has been a major source of concern for him and the Pelicans. If he gets healthy and his body stops messing with him, the young player could bring a lot of good things to the Pelicans. Still, we have to wait and see if he can continue his career in New Orleans or if other teams like the New York Knicks or Portland Trail Blazers can lure him away from Smoothie King Center.
