The New Orleans Pelicans just finished an unlikely run to the playoffs while Zion Williamson watched from the bench.
It was a lost season for Zion, which hurt both him and the team, as the Pels could have achieved more with him in the lineup, and he may have cost himself some guaranteed money.
Zion is due to sign an extension this offseason, which has been complicated by the fact that he didn’t play at all this season and has been injured in every year of his young career so far.
When healthy, Zion Williamson is a game-changing talent, as we all know, but we also know that his injuries are problematic, especially for a guy who relies so heavily on elite athleticism to get his points.
I still think the Pels are going to max him, but they might try to work in a team option or some incentive-based bonuses to protect themselves from future injuries. The team, not Zion, has all of the leverage now, which is why when Zion was asked recently about signing an extension, he had this to say:
Zion asked if he’d sign extension:
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) April 29, 2022
“Of course. I couldn’t sign it fast enough.”
After watching his team battle in the playoffs, Zion Williamson is eager to get that extension signed, and it makes total sense.