Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, who missed the entire 2021/22 season while rehabbing a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot, has been cleared to play with no restrictions, the team announced in a press release.
Recent imaging of Williamson’s foot revealed “continued improvement,” the team said. The update is notable because the 21-year-old experienced multiple setbacks early in the season while attempting to return to action.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft, Williamson has been beset by injuries in his first three seasons, having appeared in just 85 of a possible 226 games. However, he’s been undeniably effective when active, holding career averages of 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on .604/.333/.683 shooting in 31.7 minutes per contest.
As a former first-round pick entering his fourth season, Williamson is eligible for a five-year, $186MM rookie scale extension this summer, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Williamson expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of signing the extension at his end-of-season press conference last month.
It will be fascinating to see how New Orleans approaches the discussions with Williamson, as executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin admitted that the negotiations could prove to be “challenging.” The five-year, $186MM figure represents the maximum contract Williamson is eligible for, but it’s very possible the team could push for injury-related protection, with perhaps some of the money tied to games played, similar to the rookie extension Joel Embiid signed back in 2017.
Just in time!!!
Funny how that happens when the season ends.
$186 million is a waste on someone who plays 37% of the time. Don’t care what his numbers are.
A discussion with David Griffin about the coffee being served at the meetings would be challenging. Discussing his convoluted thoughts on structuring Zion’s contract will be a tooth extraction. Might be one of the few cases where an NBA player agent might actually earn what he’s paid.
I’ll take Ayton 4-year $131m over Zion 186m contract any day of the week
Okay but I’m not gonna buy tickets to see Ayton play
I’m not buying tickets to see the star player on the bench.
Great news! Now he can do whatever he wants during vacation time!
Bad joke, I’m sorry.
Never joke about peoples’s injuries!
Big man with foot problems, not good. Maybe trade him for the Holmgren pick?— he will likely avoid having the “multiple setbacks” there, due to his thinness.
I could see OKC considering that. But gotta add way more than justbthe draft rights to Holmgren. I could see any team taking one of the top 3 PFs in the draft considering that. But need more.
What do you think? J. Grant, K. Hayes, I. Steward, and Future protected 1st for Zion. I think that trade could atleast get Griffin thinking.
Pels would have to get more star-power to pull the trigger. And it actually hurts that Grant is expiring; he could be a one-year player.
Holmgren would not be enough either probably… Orlando has several young PGs & PFs to switch with Jaxson Hayes
Talk about injuries…what’s Chet…7’3 158 pounds?
Banging against 260 pounders down low, this kid is gonna take an absolute BEATING.
I’d rather have Zion.
Deep breath Pels, gather up all your cojones and do what you have to do … which is make him a lowball offer and when he turns it down, trade him. You’re already a pretty good team without him, and with the pieces you’re getting in the draft and would get in exchange for Zion, you could be an immediate Western Conference contender.
That’d be one of the dumbest things the Pelicans ever did. (And they’ve done a lot of stupid stuff) There’s nobody in the draft anywhere near Zion’s level on top of the fact the very piece they need to become a contender is in fact Zion.
If things go right but things have not.
Just give him the same deal the 76ers gave embiid
If Zion comes back as good as he was Pelican could be a top 4 team in the west.
Agreed
zion doesn’t get paid enough to play every season right now. until he gets max money, you get what you pay for right?
I would just sign him and get them all playing together ASAP.
Man I thank god my fantasy team could use him.
Ok but what are his diet restrictions?
Trade him to the Lakers for AD. They could both miss most of the season on IR. And, I’m sure the Pelicans fans would really welcome AD back.
2 weeks before camp he’ll start feeling pain, and doctors will find a stress fracture that will need 6-8 months of rest and rehab, but he’ll absolutely be 100% by next off-season.
History tells us they won’t let this fish outta the boat but boy it’s fun to ponder
Cj did so much for this team last year
I think they stay relatively quite this offseason
Most poker hands go fold/hold… It’s a risk making a move if the hand has clay feet
If Zion in, is CJ leadership diluted
They likely extend him & put off a trade decision.