Future New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson is poised to cash in on his enormous marketing potential. Others are looking to cash in as well, leading to Williamson filing a lawsuit against Prime Sports.
The New Orleans Pelicans won the rights to Zion Williamson. He is the most hyped on-court prospect in the Big Easy since Anthony Davis. Off the court, he is the first since LeBron James with billion dollar marketing potential. Biggie’s truth still holds true: “All that money will attract plenty of problems.”
Zion is a charismatic bundle of smiles, dunks, blocks, and passes. He is a happy hurricane of refreshing positivity. However, the first real negative problem of being a professional has finally made the news. Williamson, though his attorney, has filed a lawsuit against Prime Sports LLC, in a Federal District Court in North Carolina.
The New Orleans Pelicans want to make the Anthony Davis to Zion Williamson era as smooth as possible. But lawsuits are never smooth; they are contentious by their very nature. The lawsuit exposes an arrangement that begs several questions.
I spoke to a legal analyst who has reviewed the complaint and is familiar with the legal process cases like Williamson’s go through. A longer break down of the lawsuit’s full implications for all parties will follow shortly. These things never are as simple as they seem on the surface, especially when the lawyers of dueling parties need more lawyers, a judge, and a mediator to get involved.
The first question that should come to mind for any half sober Pelicans fan is obvious. As someone knowing only the basics, lawsuits involve courts. Courts involve court dates. Court dates are mandatory for many cases.
Pelicans players have missed too many games due to injuries. Is there a chance Zion Williamson misses any games, due to court injunctions, litigation, or some other legal terms not known to a civilian?
It’s not currently an issue. The lawsuit has been referred to mediation, as is required under Local Rule 83.9 of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, where the case is pending. Under the Local Rule, certain types of cases are automatically referred to mediation, and Williamson’s case falls into that category.
Williamson could miss games if the proceedings make it to trial. That is a long ways off, and unlikely according to a legal analyst I contacted about this situation, who is familiar with the process. This analyst clarified that they aren’t involved in the case directly and can only speak from experiences about the things the parties are likely taking into consideration. A quick mediation is more likely.
In fact, my legal analyst source said, “This will get cleaned up in mediation if the parties know what’s good for them.” They were speaking about all parties: Williamson, CAA, and Prime Sports. It would be best for the New Orleans Pelicans as well.