Zion Williamson‘s salary for the 2025/26 season will become fully guaranteed if he remains under contract with the Pelicans through Tuesday, and – unsurprisingly – that’s the plan, league sources tell Shamit Dua of In The NO.
If Williamson were placed on waivers today, the Pelicans would be on the hook for just $7,889,218 of his $39,446,090 salary for the coming season and would wipe his ’26/27 and ’27/28 salaries off their books entirely. But there’s no indication that the team has ever given real consideration to taking that route with the 25-year-old, who has two All-Star berths on his résumé despite battling injury issues since entering the NBA.
After Williamson appeared in a career-high 70 games in 2023/24, he was limited to just 30 appearances in ’24/25 due to hamstring and back issues. It was the fourth time in the six years since he was drafted first overall that he failed to play more than 30 games in a season. As usual, the former Duke star put up superlative numbers when healthy, including 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in 28.6 minutes per game.
Even outside of Williamson’s injury woes, it was a tumultuous year for the Pelicans, who won just 21 games and then underwent a front office overhaul this spring. Williamson, meanwhile, was suspended for one game in January after being late to a team flight and faced allegations of rape and abuse in the spring, raising questions about his future in New Orleans.
However, new executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars stated last month that Williamson is still considered a franchise cornerstone, suggesting at the time that there were no plans to trade (or waive) him this summer.
[RELATED: Early NBA Salary Guarantee Dates For 2025/26]
Williamson’s contract includes pathways for him to “re-guarantee” his future salary each season. He could guarantee 40% of his 2026/27 salary by playing at least 41 games next season; another 20% by reaching 51 games; and another 20% by appearing in at least 61 games. The final 20% would be guaranteed if he meets certain weigh-in benchmarks — that was the only requirement he met this past season, which is why only 20% of his $39.4MM salary was guaranteed until today.
July 15 is the annual decision date on Williamson, so if he doesn’t re-guarantee 100% of his 2026/27 salary based on those games-played and weigh-in requirements this coming season, he would have to remain under contract through July 15, 2026 to lock in his full $42,166,510 for ’26/27.
Cmon guy this franchise needs you more than ever today, time to step up or step out
The Pelicans might have a front court to watch this upcoming season. Looney was coached by, and close to, the guy who developed Jokic and Zubac. Kevon said he wants to spread those lessons. He might be a big locker room influence on a young Pelicans team. I’m sure he already has Jordan Poole in his corner.
Player defines disappointing, but the contract has value as an optional expiring deal for 3 straight years. Unless of course he actually plays an entire season.
Dumars being what he is, and Zion being Zion, I’m guessing Zion is on the clock at the point of first drama.
I would trade asap now that he still has valué. He’s already 24 with a banged body. Obviously the kid’s good but you can’t rely on him most of the time. Kawhi 2.0
I see mid-year. If he gets hurt, he’s just an expiring deal, but movable for something. If he’s playing, he’s going to have big numbers, and Dumars hits the jackpot.
I would have cut him. Queen is the future here. He can be a big time 4.
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Zion will be mvp this year check these recipets…