The most important part: “According to the contract, which was reviewed by The Athletic, the final three years of the deal are no longer guaranteed after Williamson was able to only play in 29 games last season. By missing more than 22 games last season, Williamson triggered a clause that turned the salary he is owed for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons from guaranteed to non-guaranteed. That means the Pelicans have the contractual power to waive Williamson after the 2024-25 season with no financial ramifications — though rival team executives believe that would only happen in extreme circumstances. And if Williamson misses significant time this season, it could cut into his guaranteed salary for 2024-25. The contract also has ways for Williamson to earn back the guarantees by playing in enough games and hitting specific weigh-in checkpoints.
When approached by The Athletic, the Pelicans several times declined to comment, answer questions about the contract or make Williamson available to speak. Williamson’s agent, Austin Brown, did not return messages seeking comment.”
TheGhostWithTheMost2
We’re not waiving Zion lmao
wymtime
Making the last 3 seasons non-guaranteed is not a big deal because he would have to be waived to save the team the money. I think the bigger question is how many of those weight check in’s do you think Zion has missed that he needs to hit to make his money guaranteed? I don’t remember the full details but it is like 285 with under 10% body fat or some sort of formula with weight and body fat percentage.
My guess is he has not done well in those check ins this season
Edit: I looked up Zions weight check ins and it is his weight plus body fat % has to be below 295.
NightmarishDreams420
dude just get in shape Z.
Bigguy781
He’s going to get traded lol.
Accomplished_East433
Still glad we picked him over Ja
SkepticalHippo93
I’m really not sure why this article came out today, didn’t we already know all of this when the contract was signed?
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Unless extreme circumstances we’re not waiving Zion. This seems like another pile on Zion click bate article.
Potential-Tip-4259
Now the rumors at the end of last season about his step dad being pissed about his contract make much more sense.
ggmey
As I understand the new CBA, non-guaranteed salary doesn’t count when looking at matching salaries in trades. So if the Pels were to trade Zion after his salary was not guaranteed they wouldn’t have to take back salary and could trade him to a team like OKC that has a massive amount of draft assets for a ton a picks. If they wanted to trade him for an established player they would have to throw in a bunch of other playes to match salary. Either way, they could clear out a lot of cap space. I’m far from being an expert on the CBA trade rules so I could be wrong, but I think that’s how it works.
Compulsive_Bater
Not sure if anyone actually looked into the contract but there’s different markers for amount of games played and weight check ins over each season that if he meets he can re-guarantee portions of his yearly contract I believe up to 60%.
The timing of this article and lack of details is trash.
CanalVillainy
Multiple places are reporting this makes me think a reminder was given on purpose. No, this isn’t new info but also, articles like this don’t pop up by accident.
More than ever, I would not be surprised if Zion is moved. He’s got a generational talent ceiling but it looks so bleak for him to just to get back to the highest level we’ve seen him.
CalmResearch3132
Can we fucking fire the whole fucking administration including the coach!!
12 Comments
The most important part: “According to the contract, which was reviewed by The Athletic, the final three years of the deal are no longer guaranteed after Williamson was able to only play in 29 games last season. By missing more than 22 games last season, Williamson triggered a clause that turned the salary he is owed for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons from guaranteed to non-guaranteed. That means the Pelicans have the contractual power to waive Williamson after the 2024-25 season with no financial ramifications — though rival team executives believe that would only happen in extreme circumstances. And if Williamson misses significant time this season, it could cut into his guaranteed salary for 2024-25.
The contract also has ways for Williamson to earn back the guarantees by playing in enough games and hitting specific weigh-in checkpoints.
When approached by The Athletic, the Pelicans several times declined to comment, answer questions about the contract or make Williamson available to speak. Williamson’s agent, Austin Brown, did not return messages seeking comment.”
We’re not waiving Zion lmao
Making the last 3 seasons non-guaranteed is not a big deal because he would have to be waived to save the team the money. I think the bigger question is how many of those weight check in’s do you think Zion has missed that he needs to hit to make his money guaranteed? I don’t remember the full details but it is like 285 with under 10% body fat or some sort of formula with weight and body fat percentage.
My guess is he has not done well in those check ins this season
Edit: I looked up Zions weight check ins and it is his weight plus body fat % has to be below 295.
dude just get in shape Z.
He’s going to get traded lol.
Still glad we picked him over Ja
I’m really not sure why this article came out today, didn’t we already know all of this when the contract was signed?
​
Unless extreme circumstances we’re not waiving Zion. This seems like another pile on Zion click bate article.
Now the rumors at the end of last season about his step dad being pissed about his contract make much more sense.
As I understand the new CBA, non-guaranteed salary doesn’t count when looking at matching salaries in trades. So if the Pels were to trade Zion after his salary was not guaranteed they wouldn’t have to take back salary and could trade him to a team like OKC that has a massive amount of draft assets for a ton a picks. If they wanted to trade him for an established player they would have to throw in a bunch of other playes to match salary. Either way, they could clear out a lot of cap space. I’m far from being an expert on the CBA trade rules so I could be wrong, but I think that’s how it works.
Not sure if anyone actually looked into the contract but there’s different markers for amount of games played and weight check ins over each season that if he meets he can re-guarantee portions of his yearly contract I believe up to 60%.
The timing of this article and lack of details is trash.
Multiple places are reporting this makes me think a reminder was given on purpose. No, this isn’t new info but also, articles like this don’t pop up by accident.
More than ever, I would not be surprised if Zion is moved. He’s got a generational talent ceiling but it looks so bleak for him to just to get back to the highest level we’ve seen him.
Can we fucking fire the whole fucking administration including the coach!!