Zion Williamson To Sign MAX Deal

After a lot of internal wrangling, the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly signing Zion Williamson to a 5-year, max rookie extension. The deal is expected to contain some sort of 'team protections' or games-played incentives. 

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is nearing a five-year rookie max contract extension worth up to $231 million, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The commitment will take Williamson’s new deal through the 2027-28 season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2022

The deal will be worth up to $231M, according to Shams Charania. Pelicans' boss David Griffin has talked at length this offseason about needing to build in plenty of protections for the team, due to the fact that Zion has only played in 85 games over the course of his three seasons in the league.

But when he HAS played, it's been impressive, to say the least.

Zion in 85 career games:

25.7 PPG
7.0 RPG
60.4 FG%

He is currently the only player in NBA history averaging 25+ points on 60% shooting. pic.twitter.com/5U6fItB258

— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 1, 2022

As noted by StatMuse, he's averaged 25.7 points in those 85 games (none of them last season), and he is currently the only player in NBA history averaging 25+ points on 60% shooting. 

A big move in the Big Easy. More details will follow.

Photo Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports