Zion recently expressed his willingness to sign a maximum salary contract with the Pelicans, and ridiculed that he would only dislike whether he signed fast enough. However, the Pelicans may not be so cheerful. On May 4, Beijing time, according to US media reports, the Pelicans were reluctant to give Zion a fully guaranteed 5-year maximum salary contract, and intended to add additional terms. Zion's injury history has heightened the Pelicans' vigilance.
"Obviously, this negotiation is going to be a challenge," Pelicans executive David Griffin said, "and the time is up and we're going to start talking." Now, our focus is on getting him back to health, to the elite state of being able to play, and then we're going to go from there. ”
Previous reports said that Zion would get a fully guaranteed maximum salary contract of $181 million for 5 years, and that it would be up to 223 million for 5 years if it met the terms of the super maximum salary. But according to ESPN's Brian Venhorst, the Pelicans not only had no intention of giving such a contract, but also planned to add some terms to Zion's new contract.
"I don't think they're going to give a 5-year cap," Vinhorst said, "and I don't think they're going to fully guarantee that 5-year contract." In my opinion, they're reluctant to let Zion have player options, in other words, give him a 5-year contract, but the Pelicans have to set the guarantees. The parties will bargain on the terms of the guarantee. ”
Vinhorst said he thinks the pelicans and Zion's contract talks will be similar to the 2017 talks embiid and the 76ers. The difference, though, was that Embiid and the 76ers were on the same page at the time, willing to accept a contract with an injury clause. But the situation was different for Zion, where there was already a rift between him and the Pelicans, and he would not easily accept such a contract with additional terms.
Zion is the 2019 champion, entering the league for 3 seasons, playing only 85 regular season games due to injury, averaging 25.7 points, 7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. This season, Zion was reimbursed for injuries with a fractured foot. Previously reported, he and the Pelicans had different views on the comeback issue.