(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Zion Williamson has missed a lot of games over the last few years and it cost his team plenty of victories.
It could apparently cost him a lot of money too.
According to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, via NBACentral, the final three years of Williamson’s max contract deal are no longer guaranteed because he missed so many games last season.
There was a clause in Williamson’s latest contract that says his salaries for 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28 are now non-guaranteed because he missed more than 22 games last season.
In 2022-23, Williamson participated in just 29 games due to a foot injury, just months after losing out on the entire season before.
The final three years of Zion Williamson’s deal are no longer guaranteed after he played in only 29 games last year, per @MikeVorkunov
(Via @TheAthletic ) pic.twitter.com/d0PbZujYCP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 21, 2023
It is important to note that Vorkunov’s reporting found that there are contract provisions that allow him to earn back some of the guarantees by playing in a set number of games.
The report also found that Williamson could guarantee salaries by meeting certain weigh-in benchmarks too.
According to Hoops Rumors, The Pelicans are reportedly requiring that Williamson keep the total of his weight and body fat percentage below a combination of 295.
Williamson will only miss out on these once-guaranteed salaries if the team decides to release him from his contract and right now that doesn’t seem very likely.
The big man has looked much better this season, although not without his fair share of problems.
He is averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists on 57.8% from the field.
The Pelicans have been struggling to climb high in the standings and are currently the seventh seed in the West.
Williamson has thankfully remained healthy so far this season and has adapted to new plans from head coach Willie Green.
Changes could come to the Pelicans but Williamson will probably remain with the team.
But will he earn back these massive salary guarantees?
The post Zion Williamson’s Contract Has Had A Notable Change appeared first on The Cold Wire.