That Zion Williamson’s contract with the New Orleans Pelicans isn’t guaranteed for the final three seasons because he hasn’t hit certain benchmarks isn’t necessarily cause for concern.
Other NBA stars have had such clauses and are still on the team that put those in.
According to a report from The Athletic, the salary he is owed for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons aren’t guaranteed because he played in 29 games last season. The contract stated those years wouldn’t be guaranteed if he missed more than 22 games.
Because of this, the Pelicans could, without penalty, waive Williamson after the 2024-25 season if they wanted.
He could get some of the guaranteed time back by making weight and body fat requirements in the deal and playing certain percentages of games.
How bad has this season been for Zion Williamson?
While Zion Williamson has not played up to expectations this season, he hasn’t been all bad. The bad moments just seem to stick out more.
He wasn’t good at all in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James guarded Williamson, backed off to give him plenty of room, but did so unfazed, as Williamson was sluggish and slow and seemed uninterested.
The Lakers crushed New Orleans 133-89 in that game on national TV. Williamson had 13 points. The Williamson narrative took an ugly turn. Former players/analysts such as Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal ripped him, saying he was out of shape (coming from Barkley, that’s saying something).
But in the very next game, Williamson had 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting, a plus/minus rating of +26 and the Pelicans knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team with the best record in the league. Unfortunately, the narrative didn’t change.
Before this season, Williamson had played in 114 games in his first four seasons. He missed the 2020-21 season with a foot injury and missed most of last season with a hamstring injury. He has played in 23 of 28 games this season. Does that make him a bust?
Would the New Orleans Pelicans waive Zion Williamson?
Even with the limited play, even with the bad games at the wrong time, it seems unlikely New Orleans would ever cut Williamson, whether he reaches his potential this year or next.
That Lakers game aside, when Williamson has been on the floor, he has been good. In those 137 total games, he has averaged 25.2 points and shot 60% from the floor. It’s 28.5 points and 62% shooting per 36 minutes in those games.
His best season was the season he played the most. In 2020-21, Williamson was on the floor for 61 games and averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds and shot 61% from the floor. He has routine bursts of energy when he takes the ball, drives to the basket and powers in a shot, no matter the defense.
He’s 23 years old, and in two seasons, when the Pelicans could waive him, he’d be just 25. That’s the age players start to hit their peak. Why cut a guy with so much potential just as he might be ready to finally take off?
If New Orleans decided to move on from Williamson, a non-guaranteed contract would be much easier to trade. That’s the perfect trade asset: Possible great player on a non-guaranteed deal. The Pelicans could certainly get a lot in return.
Players like Joel Embiid, who missed the first two seasons of his professional career with the Philadelphia 76ers because of injury, had clauses to protect the team in case he never fully recovered.
But he did, and now he is one of the best players in the league.
Williamson has the talent and potential to be just that, one of the best players in the league. Yes, he needs to get into better shape and yes, he needs to listen to the team about getting into better shape. But it appears that at least for the first time, he’s fully healthy.