We knew that the contract extension of Zion Williamson, initialed in 2022, included clauses related to his health and more generally on his weight. The Pelicans had thus included at least one clause so that he did not gain too much weight, and more precisely that his weight remained around 130 kilos. If the power forward exceeds this threshold, the guaranteed amount of his contract decreases.
What we didn't know was that there was a much more restrictive clause, and it just blew up! The Athletic reveals that the last three years of Williamson's contract are now no longer guaranteed! For what ? Because Williamson only played in 29 games last season.
Cut at the beginning of July 2025?
By missing more than 22 games last season, Williamson activated a clause that transforms the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons from guaranteed to non-guaranteed! Thus, Williamson's contract for the 2024-25 season is fully guaranteed until January 7, 2024. In the same vein, his salary for the 2025-26 season is 100% guaranteed if he is not cut to July 15, 2025. Same situation for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons.
In other words, this means that the Pelicans will have the opportunity to part ways with Williamson at the end of next season, in early July 2025. What we also learn is that if Williamson still misses a lot of games this season, the amount of his guaranteed contract will be reduced next season.
Weigh-ins that pay off… big
Although there is little chance that the Pelicans will activate this release clause, The Athletic reveals a whole bunch of other clauses. For example, 20% of his salary for the 2025-26 season will be guaranteed if he passes the six weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season, an additional 40% if he plays at least 41 games in 2024 -25 and an additional 20% if he plays at least 51 matches. The remaining 20% will be guaranteed again if he plays at least 61 games. He can again guarantee part of his salary for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons by achieving the same goals in previous seasons.
