Zion Williamson said he’d sign a contract extension if the Pelicans offer this offseason: “Of course, I couldn’t sign it fast enough.”
Pelicans lead executive David Griffin said not so fast.
Williamson’s max extension projects to be worth $182 million-$195 million over five years (more if Williamson makes an All-NBA team next season).
Windhorst mentioned the possibility of $100 million guaranteed. It’s unclear whether he was reporting that as an amount New Orleans is eying or just speculating.
Joel Embiid set a precedent by signing a max-salary rookie-scale extension that wasn’t fully guaranteed. Like Williamson, Embiid had substantial injury issues his first three seasons. However, Embiid’s deal would have saved the 76ers money only if he missed a certain number of games due to re-injury and Philadelphia waived him. The injuries would have had to be devastating for the 76ers to drop Embiid outright.
Will the Pelicans give Williamson that type of deal? Or will they try to include incentives that allow them to keep Williamson regardless but have his salary fluctuate based on benchmarks? (If including incentives – or paying Williamson less than a max salary – the extension could be for only up to four years.)
There’s obviously a lot to negotiate.
Remember, though, New Orleans has Williamson under contract through next season. If he hits 2023 free agency, the Pelicans can make him restricted, giving them the right to match any offer. New Orleans isn’t at risk of suddenly losing Williamson (though slowly losing Williamson is a worry).
Williamson doesn’t have to accept an extension offer this offseason, either. He could play out next season, hopefully healthier, and bargain from a position of strength next summer.
So, both sides are trying to convince the other this is the right time to lock in – on that side’s desired terms. Which means attempts to gain leverage.
Remember those reports a few years ago Pelicans owner Gayle Benson wouldn’t trade Anthony Davis to the Lakers? New Orleans obviously did trade Davis to the Lakers. So, maybe those reports were just wrong. But it also seems possible she was being used as a bargaining tool. Griffin could tell the Lakers: I really want to trade you Davis, but our owner is opposed, so your offer needs to be even better. The Lakers eventually surrendered a haul for Davis.
Perhaps, Benson really is driving a hard bargain with Williamson. But maybe her purported stance is just a way for Griffin – who has a fragile relationship with Williamson – to play hardball without further alienating the young star. If Benson is willing to play the bad guy, that might help her franchise.
Williamson is too unreliable to depend on with a fully guaranteed max extension. But drawing that conclusion is just the start. Determining how much money to offer Williamson and make him feel good about the organization after what could be contentious negotiations will be bigger challenges.
