The NBA future of Zion Williamson is up in the air as the New Orleans Pelicans feel unsure about his future. New Orleans has failed to become a playoff team, let alone a contender, in the Williamson era after taking him with the first overall pick. Zion had similar hype to recent rookie success stories like Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg. Unfortunately, health woes and a lack of team success have hurt his reputation.
Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel reported that the Pelicans aren’t considering extension Williamson with two years left on his deal:
“With two years remaining on his deal, Zion is eligible for an extension this offseason, but it’s highly unlikely that he will get one. Even though the Pelicans still believe in the former No. 1 pick, they are in no rush to lock him into a new deal and want to see him put together another complete season after playing in 62 games a season ago.”
New Orleans still believes in Williamson enough to have him on the roster with hopes of making the playoffs this season. Trey Murphy is still on the roster after months of trade rumors, and guard Dejounte Murray is hoping to bounce back from an injured season. Zion must find more team success and stay on the court with this roster to improve his chances at a contract extension.
Could The Pelicans Trade Zion Williamson?
Most NBA teams hope to extend their star players or the face of the franchise as quickly as possible. Williamson’s lower value could also have enticed New Orleans to offer him a smaller extension to both secure his future and give them a more friendly contract.
However, the Pelicans seem content going into this season and waiting on Zion to prove he deserves a new deal. Another injury or a bad season in the win/loss column could see trades coming. New Orleans already has Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen as two young prospects to build around.
Herbert Jones, Murphy, and Williamson could easily end up on the trade block as soon as this upcoming season’s trade deadline. The Pelicans would likely prefer to trade Zion next summer rather than going into another season with only one year left on Williamson’s contract.
What Could Land Zion Williamson A New Deal
A strong season of good health and contributing to winning basketball is the only path towards New Orleans offering a strong contract to Williamson. Losing Brandon Ingram last offseason was meant to see Zion taking a bigger step forward as the top player.
However, Murphy was arguably the best player for the Pelicans last season to boost his own trade value. The Golden State Warriors and a handful of other teams have expressed interest in a Murphy trade.
Williamson’s value is weaker to warrant giving him a chance to prove his worth. The time is now for Zion to prove his worth in the NBA as a credible player who can lead a team to wins. Williamson needs a good year for New Orleans or any other team to invest in him long-term.
Pelicans May Be Getting Ready To End Zion Williamson Era