The New Orleans Pelicans have signed Zion Williamson to a five-year contract worth up to $231 million, signaling the owner is willing to pay the playoff luxury tax.
It’s official. Zion Williamson has signed a maximum five-year rookie contract with the New Orleans Pelicans worth $193 million. The franchise cornerstone’s contract could be as high as $231 million, CAA Sports co-director of Basketball Austin Brown told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Pelicans will happily foot the bill if Williamson hits those contract escalation milestones. Supermax clauses include making the All-NBA team and winning NBA MVP or Defensive Player of the Year awards next season.
The Pelicans will happily foot the bill if Williamson hits those contract escalation milestones. Supermax clauses include making the All-NBA team and winning NBA MVP or Defensive Player of the Year awards next season.
The 2019 first-choice has proven himself worthy every time he’s stepped on the pitch. After dealing with multiple injuries that limited him to just 85 games in three years, New Orleans expects him to be completely unlimited going forward and help Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.
The former Duke Blue Devil averaged 27 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 61.1 percent from the field in his second year as a pro. Williamson’s 27.0 points per game with a 60% field goal average were historic numbers. Zion is the only player to achieve the feat and became the fourth-youngest NBA All-Star.
CJ McCollum ($33 million) and Brandon Ingram ($31 million), plus Williamson’s deal, make up nearly $100 million of the $123 million salary cap. The team already expects to pay between $143 million and $155 million on the roster over the next two seasons. This agreement signals that team governor Gayle Benson is ready to pay the luxury tax as soon as possible.
Williamson said he would sign the deal as soon as possible. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin had a few loose ends to iron out. Yet, in the end, the teams were satisfied and ready to start the 2022-23 season. Everyone in the building believes another playoff run is in the cards. Especially now that Zion Williamson will be with the team for most of the decade.
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