Ranking the New Orleans Pelicans’ Three Best Contracts

Zion Williamson, Power Forward

Contract:

2019-20 $9.75 million

2020-21 $10.24 million

2021-22 $10.7 million

2022-23 $13.53 million

It’s hard to say that any human making over $9 million a year is underpaid, but when he is scoring 23.6 points and pulling down 6.8 boards a game, that’s exactly what he is.

Zion Williamson is currently one of the best value contracts in the NBA, as most players who are putting up those kind of numbers are already on big contracts.

This is both a good thing and a scary one, as the New Orleans Pelicans might feel pressure to win now, to put a team around Zion that makes him want to stay long-term.

But the Pelicans have to avoid the trap of adding high-priced veterans in an effort to appease Zion, as this formula has had disastrous consequences in the past.

Take the mid-market Cleveland Cavaliers, who were so desperate to keep LeBron James that they kept surrounding him with the high-priced veteran du-jour, never allowing for LeBron to grow and play with guys his own age.

The New Orleans Pelicans must balance the need to win now with the future, as Zion is more likely to stay on a winning team that is full of guys with whom he has chemistry.

Zion’s contract puts the Pelicans in a unique position, as their best player is not their highest paid, which will definitely change when and if he signs an extension.

The Pelicans have three years to build a winner or win a title while Zion is still on his rookie deal.

They can’t wait forever to make a splash in a trade or free agency, but they also shouldn’t make rash movies a la the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The handling of Zion’s contract situation will be the single-most important thing for the New Orleans Pelicans’ front office.

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