Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans just can’t quit each other.
New Orleans remains committed to their star forward Williamson, and they are even considering a contract extension for him this summer, NBA writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported on Thursday. Robinson notes that the Pelicans are eyeing a two-to-three-year extension for Williamson worth in the range of $30 million-$35 million per year.
Williamson, still only 25 years old, was drafted by the Pelicans with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and has made two All-Star teams during his time in New Orleans. But Williamson’s overall professional career has been a big “what if?” up to this point due to his longstanding history of injuries and weight concerns.
That said, Williamson has righted the ship some this season. While his overall numbers are down (21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game), the most important thing is that Williamson has been able to play in 62 games and counting, which marks the second-highest total of his entire NBA career. As a result of his relative healthiness, Williamson has earned himself some notable financial rewards this year.
But the Pelicans as a whole are in the sewer once again. They are 11th in the Western Conference at a hapless 26-54 and will thus have a lot of soul-searching to do this summer as they attempt to course-correct.
Williamson is still under contract through 2027-28, scheduled to make $42.2 million next season and $44.9 million the season after that. But even if Williamson himself sounded uncertain about his future with New Orleans earlier this month, the Pelicans (perhaps somewhat curiously) still clearly view him as a core piece.
