Smith said that while injuries have been Zion’s undoing, he still needs to get the max contract extension because of how the New Orleans Pelicans performed in the playoffs this season.
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The NBA has seen a lot of great prospects but very few have had people talking as much as Zion Williamson. After being selected number 1 in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion, when fit, has put up ridiculous numbers. His performances were so good that he was in the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 and in 2021, became the 4th youngest player to be selected to play in the All-Star game. There is one thing that has hampered him in his fledgling career and that has been his fitness issues and that has got people debating whether he is deserving of a max contract extension.
NBA analyst and outspoken personality, Stephen A. Smith was on NBA Countdown when he said that while injuries have been Zion’s undoing, he still needs to get the max contract extension, simply because of how the New Orleans Pelicans performed in the playoffs this season. Smith said, “If you asked me this before the playoffs, I would have told you ‘Hell No’ because I am a stickler for guys being available. The guy (Zion) has missed 62 per cent of the games in his career. In 141 games, this guy has missed out on a possible 226. I would not have paid him. But then I watched the Pelicans in the postseason and I watch CJ McCollum, Valanciunas and all of these brothers right here. Brandon Ingram is a star. I watched these guys. And then I said to myself, ‘Oh my Lord. What if zion was in there?’
He continued, “He is a mammoth of a man who isn’t even 22 years old yet. Based on what I’ve seen from New Orleans, imagining what they can be. If Zion wants to be there, I have to give him the max just to ensure that I got him locked in for years to come even if I want to move him later on.”
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Another NBA analyst, Brian Windhorst said that at this point, the Pelicans are not ready to offer a full 5-year guaranteed deal to Zion Williamson. Speaking on a recent appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, he said, “Any player that’s in his position would sign a 5-year, guaranteed max contract. But from what I have been told, The Pelicans, at this point are not willing to offer a full 5 year guaranteed deal, and a lot of it is flowing down from ownership.
“Gayle Benson, the owner, is also the owner of the Saints and I have been told they are gonna take a football-style mentality with his contract negotiation. They will offer him a huge contract but will not guarantee all of it. If Zion accepts those terms, it still protects himself and maybe gets $100+ million guaranteed, he signs and everything’s fine. If he doesn’t sign it and wants the full thing guaranteed, we could have some drama into the fall.”
