Zion Williamson will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer, which makes the next 12 months critical for the Pelicans, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. Although he has been hampered by injuries during his first two NBA seasons, Williamson has been brilliant when he’s been on the court, averaging 25.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 85 combined games. He provides a foundation for New Orleans to build around, but the Pelicans will need him to accept a long-term deal.
No player on a rookie scale contract has turned down a maximum-salary extension during the past decade, but Clark notes that Williamson’s circumstances are unusual. He’s already an All-Star at age 20 and he came into the NBA with a reported $75MM deal with Jordan Brand. He may not mind giving up a little bit of money to get to a larger market or a contending team. New Orleans is a combined 61-83 since adding Williamson and has missed the playoffs both years.
“My stepfather taught me different,” Williamson said at his exit interview. “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is kind of insane. So I’m not going to sit here and say we’re close. The reality of it is it was very disappointing not to be a part of the play-in tournament and stuff. We just have to come in and be better. That’s just me being real.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for today’s Game 4, but the Mavericks expect him to be available, according to Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News. Doncic has a cervical strain and was feeling pain in his neck and left arm during Friday’s game. “I think he’s going to play, but we’ll see tomorrow,” coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Saturday. “Questionable, generally, from what I’ve seen this year with other teams and our team is more likely to play than not, in most cases.”
- Olimpia Milano has interest in signing Mavericks big man Nicolò Melli after the playoffs, relays Dario Skerletic of Sportando. The original report came from Daniele Dallera of Corriere della Sera, who says Olimpia coach Ettore Messina has reached out to Melli’s agent several times. Melli spent five seasons with the team earlier in his career.
- Kelly Olynyk exceeded expectations as a scorer and playmaker after the Rockets acquired him from Miami in March, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Olynyk will be an unrestricted free agent, but Houston has his Bird rights and a strong interest in keeping him on the roster.
Two flawed teams in the west
Pelicans
Wolves
Why flawed？
They have tremendous talents
Grizzlies will be far better than them next 3 seasons
Wouldn’t have known Luka was injured Friday from his stat line. 44/9/9. I’d hate to what he’d have done if he was healthy.
Guy doesn’t seem like he enjoys losing. Probably just an excuse/reasonable doubt.
If Zion doesn’t extend, doesn’t he just become an RFA?.. If he can just walk and the Pels don’t get a chance to match an offer and keep him, there’s going to be a Zion Rule real fast.
He could do what @x_burner_X is saying below with what Porzingis did. The Pelicans have the right to give him a qualifying offer to allow them to match whatever contract teams offer him. Zion can just accept that one year QO instead and be UFA the next season. The article is saying that he has the money from sponsorships and his clear stardom to not need get money asap and just wait one more year to go somewhere else. I think I over-explained but whatever.
Porzingis basically accepted his QO, just to leave NYK. Why does everyone always forget that?
Because it didn’t happen?
Knicks panic traded him, because they knew he would accept QO and leave as a FA in a year.
There’s absolutely no way a guy with a history of injuries coming off an ACL tear would’ve turned down a five-year, $158MM contract for a one-year, $4.5MM deal. Even if the Knicks thought he was unhappy in New York, they wouldn’t view that threat as realistic. Just like the Mavs didn’t when they traded for him (Shams reported at the time that Porzingis told the Mavs he’d sign his QO: link to twitter.com)
Zion is a clear superstar but you’d think he would be more of a beast on the glass.
He reminds me a lot of Randy Moss. A player with tons of talent but not enough heart. You see this a lot with guys who get by so much on their physical ability and don’t have to put in the work to improve their game.
Yeah I see it too. I think he will find that passion on a winning team, or if he starts playing with a passionate player or franchise. But his incredible athleticism/body size would have you thinking he could be top 5 in league rebounding.
Kelly Olynyk will be far easier to re-sign than Oladipo would have been, especially with the latter’s playing future in doubt after yet another injury. Getting both Olynyk and Kevin Porter afterwards make the Harden trade look much better in retrospect, especially if the Rockets hold onto their top-4 draft pick.