The Pelicans are crazy! Really going to give Zion Williamson 5 years 231 million? He only played 85 games!
On the first day that the door of the trading market opened, it can be said that all kinds of crazy signings are directly brushed up, and the 100 million yuan contract is also full of flying, which makes people overwhelmed! In less than 24 hours, the alliance has produced as many as 7 billion yuan contracts, and there will be hundreds of millions of contracts in the future. As many as 42 players have been awarded new contracts, signing a staggering $1.94 billion. However, it is mainly concentrated on eight players such as Jokic, Beal, Booker, Downs, Morant, Brunson, Anfenni Simmons and Dort, who have signed a total of 1.45 billion, accounting for 74.7% of the total amount signed today. Among them, Jokic got the first major contract in history for 5 years and 256 million, followed by Beal's 251 million for 5 years, and they also became the first players in the history of the league to get 250 million contracts.
When the league team opened the crazy signing mode, it seems that zion Williamson's New Orleans Pelicans are not willing to be left behind, and they are about to make a big move! That is to provide his own champion striker Zion Williamson with a super salary extension contract. According to well-known journalist Shams, sources reveal that the New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson are close to reaching a five-year contract worth 231 million yuan in advance to renew the super-maximum salary.
But according to salary expert Keith Smith, 231 million in five years is only the highest amount Zion can theoretically get, not a guarantee amount. Zion signed a contract like Morant, which is the top salary of 193 million yuan for 5 years in the early renewal of rookies. But if Zion and Morant trigger the Rose clause or designate the rookie clause next season, their contracts will become 231 million for 5 years.
This means that as long as Zion can be selected for the All-Star starter twice in a row, elected as the MVP of the regular season, twice selected as the best team or elected the defensive player of the year, etc., and meet one of them, then his contract will be upgraded to 231 million for 5 years.
Zion Williamson, the 2019 draft pick, has played just 85 games for the Pelicans in the past three seasons, including 24 in the first season and 61 in the second season, and was reimbursed for injury last season. When the Pelicans were ready to offer Zion a five-year, $231 million early salary extension, one really couldn't help but ask if the Pelicans were crazy? To give a 5-year, 231 million contract extension to an old patient who has only played 85 games so far in his career, is he not afraid of eventually falling into a garbage contract? Such a big gamble is too risky!
The next thing the Pelicans should pray for is that Zion will remain healthy in the future, otherwise they will become a great wronged species! Indeed, Zion was an inside killer when he was healthy, averaging 25.7 points, 7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the last 85 games, shooting 60.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 68.3 percent from the free throw line. He is also the only player in league history to average 25+ points per game and shoot 60 percent from the field.
In addition, according to salary expert Bobby Marks when analyzing Durant's trading prospects on the show, he said that the Pelicans may also be involved in the deal, Zion has been absent before, and if he and the Pelicans complete the renewal, then like Ingram may be involved in the deal. It can be seen that the Pelicans will start the team construction with Williamson Zion as the absolute core, and 231 million in 5 years is enough to highlight his unique position in the team.