New Orleans Pelicans: Why the Giannis contract is good for the Pels

Giannis Antetokounmpo signing a max contract extension is good for the New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson.

Giannis Antetokounmpo just agreed to a supermax contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, which is good for the New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson.

The contract was announced via Shams Charania on Twitter:

My first thought was “it’s good to be an NBA player.”

That is an insane amount of money but if any player is worth it, it’s the two-time MVP, who is just entering his prime.

My second thought was that this was good for the New Orleans Pelicans for a couple of reasons, but mostly because of how it might affect their chances to re-sign Zion Williamson.

New Orleans Pelicans: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract could impact Zion Williamson

The Smaller Market

It was nice to see a superstar stay with a small market team like the Milwaukee Bucks. It is next to impossible for teams like Milwaukee to get stars in free agency, so drafting one and hoping he sticks around is really the only option.

Over the last several seasons we’ve seen players flock for the coasts, choosing one of the LA teams or Miami, where there is no state income tax.

Giannis has shown future stars like Zion Williamson that there are other paths than joining forces with evil in Los Angeles or Miami and that great teams can be built in smaller markets.

Giannis’ presence now makes it possible for Milwaukee to attract free agents who want to compete for a title, something they would never be able to do without him.

The same can happen with Zion Williamson in New Orleans, one of the smallest markets in the NBA. The Pels already have budding superstar Brandon Ingram, and with the two of them, should be able to attract the types of free agents that were previously off-limits to the Pels.

This could be a factor in keeping Zion long term and could help balance the distribution of free-agent talent in the league.

Giannis re-signing with the Bucks is good for the smaller market teams and good for the NBA.

The Western Conference

This could all change of course, but for now, Giannis is staying out of the Western Conference, which is a good thing for everyone.

The West is already loaded, with 12 teams with legit shots at making the playoffs, the last thing this conference needs is another superstar.

The New Orleans Pelicans will be in a dogfight for the 8th seed all season and hopefully, more in the future, which will be easier without another superteam in the Western Conference or Giannis teaming up with Golden State.

Keep him in the East.

Giannis is the current face of the NBA and Zion Williamson could be the future, let’s hope that they both retire with the teams that drafted them.