Injured star Zion Williamson is very unlikely to trade with the New Orleans Pelican this offseason.
This is according to the latest Inter of Athletics’ Wirugillory, who reported that Williamson would be at best moving before the start of the 2025-26 season.
Williamson’s camp has been in touch with Pelican GM Joe Dumar on several occasions, with both parties on the same page ahead of the new campaign.
The 24-year-old averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 30 games in this past regular season.
Williamson is currently finishing four of six NBA seasons with under 30 games, and the struggle to keep him on the floor has proven to be an annoying battle for the Pelicans.
The previous number one overall pick is undoubtedly one of the most explosive and entertaining players in the league, but he is not often available to merely be perceived as one of the elite-level guys.
Williamson failed to put the prints in a disappointing New Orleans season, where he took 27 consecutive hamstrings early in the season and finished 14th in the Western Conference alongside a variety of other issues.
Watch: Zion Williamson’s Electric 40 Point Game vs Sacramento Kings in February
Why does Zion Williamson continue to get injured?
The inability to be there for his team consistently comes down to a number of factors. He has a unique body type – a large build with immeasurable power.
His style of play relies heavily on his strength and explosiveness in reaching the basket and being the dominant force inside.
Its strength and explosiveness puts a great strain on his body, and his feet and ankles are always at a higher risk of injury due to his attacking style.
Not only that, his conditioning is undoubtedly similar to Luka Donsic’s diet and fitness regime. And his extensive history of injury means he is more susceptible to the history of new injuries in the same region.
The Pelican had all of that in mind when he offered him a $199.2 million contract extension for up to five years in 2022.
Williamson has a metering standard that requires a combination of weight and body fat percentages below 295 to guarantee 20% of salary for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
The remaining 80% is guaranteed based on the number of games he plays in the previous season. The deal was structured to protect New Orleans if he continues to fight injuries.
The final three years of his contract were no longer guaranteed as he was unable to play the minimum game required for a deal during the 2022-23 campaign.
