Damage-plagued star Zion Williamson may be very unlikely to be traded by the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason.
That’s based on the most recent intel from The Athletic’s Will Guillory, who reported the possibilities of Williamson being moved earlier than the beginning of the 2025-26 season are slim at greatest.
Williamson’s camp has been involved with Pelicans GM Joe Dumars on a number of events and each events are on the identical web page forward of the brand new marketing campaign
The 24-year-old averaged 24.6 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 30 video games this previous common season, being shut down in mid March with a bone bruise in his again.
Williamson has now completed 4 of his six NBA seasons enjoying 30 video games or fewer and the wrestle to maintain him on the ground has confirmed to be an irritating battle for the Pelicans.
The previous primary total choose is doubtless one of the explosive and entertaining gamers within the league however he merely isn’t accessible typically sufficient to be recognised as one of many elite-level guys.
Williamson missed 27 consecutive video games earlier within the season with a strained hamstring and alongside varied different points, wasn’t capable of put his print on a disappointing season for New Orleans who completed 14th within the Western Convention.
WATCH: Zion Williamson’s electrical 40-point recreation vs Sacramento Kings in February
Why does Zion Williamson hold getting injured?
Williamson’s incapability to be there for his staff persistently comes all the way down to various elements. He has a singular physique kind – a big construct with immense energy.
His play fashion depends closely on his power and explosiveness in attending to the basket and being a dominant power inside, which includes a fair proportion of contact and hefty bumps.
That power and explosiveness places a big pressure on his physique and invariably his legs and ankles are at greater danger of harm as a result of his fashion of assault.
Not solely that, his conditioning positively may very well be higher – just like Luka Doncic’s food plan and health regime – and his in depth harm historical past means he’s extra inclined to new ones in the identical areas.
The Pelicans had all of that in thoughts after they supplied him a most five-year, $197.2 million contract extension in 2022, which requires him to earn assured cash as he goes.
Williamson has a weigh-in standards that requires him to have a mixed weight and physique fats proportion under 295 to ensure 20% of his wage for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The remaining 80% turns into assured primarily based on the variety of video games he performs within the earlier season. The deal was structured to guard New Orleans within the occasion he continues to wrestle with accidents, which has come true.
The ultimate three years of his contract turned not assured as a result of he was unable to play the minimal video games required within the deal through the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
