The highly touted Duke prospect, Zion Williamson, was supposed to be a catch for the New Orleans Pelicans. And in many ways, he was. While the management knew the risks they were taking when bringing Williamson on board, no one expected them to have laid down this kind of groundwork.

The latest details on Z’s contract called for repeated readings to fully understand the finer clauses. We will try to give you a simpler version of the same.

The layered contract of Zion Williamson

The NBA takes care in drawing up contracts to ensure mutual benefit. As is the case with any business deal, because when we come down to the wire, it is what it is. However, Williamson’s contract contains numerous clauses, resembling a mini minefield, which can and will be activated if Zion makes a misstep.

After his rookie year, the Pelicans signed him for a 5-year $197 million extension. And while, at the time, it was considered a great deal, Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season, along with a major amount of time in the ensuing years. What triggered the non-guarantee clause of his final three-year payment was missing 29 games last season.

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This means, the 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28 seasons’ guaranteed salary just became not so guaranteed. If it takes full effect, then Zion Williamson will lose $126,499,530. But as mentioned before, it is a contract that is mutually beneficial. And if ‘Zanos’ manages to meet the certain conditions outlined, there is every chance that everything goes back to normal.

The conditions that will allow Williamson to get back on track

The most obvious check-in point is the number of games to be played. Another aspect is his weight management. According to New Orleans management, if Williamson can’t maintain certain marks set during their regular checks of his body weight and fat percentage, there will be ramifications.

Pelicans Could “Waive” Zion Williamson Next Season Due to Unfulfillment of a Clause, per Reports

As of now, he is listed as 285 pounds. The contract says that Zion’s weight and body fat percentage must at all times be below 295. So that’s a check. But the Pelicans are not in the least interested in waiving ‘Zanos’ off. Unless they are forced to. The other avenues of escape for Williamson look like this:

• If Zion passes all six of his check-in points during the next season, he will be guaranteed 20% of his salary for 2025-26.
• It will increase to 40% guarantee if he plays in at least 41 games or more and an additional 20% if the games played are 51, in the 2024-25 season.
• The last block, 20%, gets guaranteed when he plays 61 or more games.

If Williamson can keep hitting these markers every season, the non-guaranteed final three years will automatically switch back to guaranteed. But he will have to hit them.

While this might sound somewhat of an extreme measure, it’s not the first time the league has had such unusual contracts in place. A heavy injury-prone Joel Embiid had a clause-filled contract during his initial days. More recently, Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic also has a partially guaranteed 2023-24 season and is non-guaranteed for the next season.

Their contracts pale in comparison to Zion Williamson’s. However, the measures accepted by the league or particular management are in place to ensure protection for all parties involved. Hopefully, Zion Williamson can turn things around in time.

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